Chapter 2: Breeds and Life Cycles of Livestock and Poultry

Unit 2e: Swine Life Cycle - history and general production of hogs

Hogs in the Americas:

• 1493: Santo Domingo with Columbus

• 1539: brought to Florida– Wild hogs common to southeastern US in colonial times were

likely “escapees” from as early as Spanish exploration

Historical Perspectives:• Domesticated about 8000 years ago

• China produces nearly one-half of the world’s hogs

• Vast majority of market hogs are crossbreds

• Production concentrated in the Midwest due to availability of corn and soybeans

• Revolution: the pork industry became highly horizontally integrated in the 1990’s

Swine numbers - 2001

Rank State Swine(millions)

1 Iowa 15.0

2 North Carolina 9.5

3 Minnesota 5.6

4 Illinois 4.2

5 Indiana 3.2

6 Missouri 3.0

Total All States 58.8

Swine Genealogy:

• Genus and species: Sus scrofa

• Sub-species 1: domesticus– European breeds, such as Hampshire

• Sub-species 2: indicus– Asian breeds, such as Meishan

• Common term for hogs: porcine

Swine Life Cycle: Farrowing

• Well developed gilts are bred to farrow at approximately one year of age

• Sows are limit-fed to control weight during gestation

• Farrowing crates or stalls commonly used in the US

Newborn Piglet Management:

• Birth weight: 3.0-3.5 pounds typical

• Newborns do not effectively control body temperature; require heat source

• Sow’s colostrum is critical to survival

• Navel dipping - antiseptic to prevent infection

• Identification - record keeping begins

Pig Management: First Month

• Tail removal - to reduce tail-biting

• Clipping “needle” teeth - prevent injuries

• Castrate - market pigs in US will be castrated

• Weaning– Commonly done at about one month of age– New: “segregated early weaning” at 12-16 days

• Creep feeding - may be fed extra energy

Feedlot Animals:

• Barrows and gilts commonly marketed for meat

• Free-choice feeding of high corn and soybean meal diets common in US

• Common market goals:– 6 months of age or less– 230 to 270 pounds live weight

Female Replacements:

• Goal: first litter born at one year of age– Selected females will be bred at about 7 to

8 months of age

• Subsequent breeding times will be determined by management strategies– Sows are typically polyestrous– Multiple litters per year possible

Replacement Males:

• Performance evaluation– Items such as average daily gain, feed

efficiency, backfat thickness and rib-eye area will be evaluated

• Limited use in breeding at one year of age

• AI collection for breeding with unfrozen semen use is common