SWINE NOTES Scientific Name – Sus scrofa

Other common names – swine, porcine Monogastric Digestive System (single

stomach) Boar – male pig Sow – mature female after she has

given birth Litter Size 8-12 Gilt – immature female pig Barrow – castrated male pig Piglet – baby pig

SWINE NOTES Gestation – 114-(118 days) – 3 months,

3 weeks, 3 days Estrus Cycle – 21 days Body Temperature – 102 degrees

farenheit Lactation – (21)-28 days Farrowing – sow giving birth (parturition) Average Daily Gain – approximately 2

lbs. per day. (gilts 1.7 – barrows 1.8+) Feeder Pig – 50-60 lb pig ready to move

into the finishing phase.

SWINE NOTES Condition – measurement of body fat on

breeding stock animals Finish – measurement of body fat on market

animals (typically measured between the 12th and 13th rib – called backfat)

Ideal backfat on a market hog is ½ inch Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS) – genetic

condition that results in pigs that are very easily stressed sometimes even to the point of death

PSE – Pale, Soft and Exudative – condition of meat from swine that have been stressed shortly prior to slaughter.

SWINE NOTES Paternal traits (father, sire, terminal)

Fast growth rateHeavy musclingEfficient Feed Conversion

Maternal traitsLarge litter size (prolific)Heavy milk productionStrong mothering instincts (docile)

SWINE REVIEW CONT. Diagrams

Parts (27)Bones (24)Wholesale Cuts (5)Ear Notching (10)

SWINE REVIEW How would piglets behave on a sow with

lactation failure? What are the two leading countries of

pork production? Who is the leading country of pork

consumption per capita? What are two reasons a producer should

clip needle teeth? What are three things that a producer

“should” during piglet processing? What are a couple of congenital defects

seen in piglets?

SWINE REVIEW What age do gilts reach puberty? What width should an ally be to move

pigs? What weight would be considered

underweight and disadvantaged at birth?

Why is it important to examine the scrotum before castration? (two reason)

When should boars be castrated? What is the average neonatal mortality? Define neonatal Define congenital defect

SWINE REVIEW Define the term cryptorchid What should be done with piglets that

are splay legged both front and rear? What tools are required to process

piglets? What tool is helpful when moving hogs? What temperature should it be in the

farrowing room? What tool can be used to restrain a pig? Name three ways a piglet would be

considered disadvantaged?

SWINE REVIEW What disease of piglets is caused by a

Staph infection? What are important characteristics to

evaluate when selecting replacement gilts.

List and describe the three phases of the swine industry.

Name two ways that a producer can help make sure colostrum is more evenly available to all piglets.

What are the two leading causes of piglet mortality?

SWINE REVIEW Explain how the feeding systems of a

gestating sow and a market hog are different and why?

Explain what PEDv is and its current impact on the swine industry.