Swine

Reproduction: Chapter 22 Nutrition: Chapter 22Restraint: Chapter 2

Venipuncture: Chapter 23

Objectives Know breeding information and discuss common

reproductive problems Understand nutritional needs Restraint Performing diagnostic sampling and medication procedures. Administer medications by oral, nasal, and parenteral

routes. Properly insert and maintain an intravenous catheter, and

monitor the catheter for complications. Set up materials and equipment, and prepare the patient Provide assistance to the veterinarian Perform or assist with necropsy

Video (squeaky)

Breeding Data Type of estrus cycle: Polyestrous Age of female puberty (gilts): 4 to 8 months Age of male puberty : 6 to 8 months Time of first breeding: 7 to 9 months Estrous cycle length: 18 to 24 days

Duration of estrus: 2 to 3 days Time of ovulation: 40 to 46 hours after the

beginning of estrus Optimal time of breeding (fresh/frozen)

24 to 36 hours after the onset of estrus 12 to 24 hours in gilts

Breeding Data (cont’d) Gestation period : 114

days (3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days)

Birth weight : 4 to 4.5 lb

Litter size : 8-14 Weaning age : 3 to 6

weeks

Heat Detection

Strive to wean 21 to 22 pigs per year Average 2.57 litters per year Goal should be to wean nine piglets per

litter or more Boar effect Sow to return to cycle: after piglets are

removed – 4-10 days Birth to weaning < 10% mortality

Gilt exposure to a mature boar

Gilts reach puberty 5-8 months

Boar has pheromone secreting salivary gland that sexually stimulates female pigs

Heat Detection Signs of estrus in swine include

Frequent mounting by other sows Restless activity Swelling of the vulva Discharge from the vulva Frequent urination Decreased appetite; occasional

loud grunting Lordosis response during male

mounting or when back pressure is applied resulting in a rigid stance and erect ears

Checked twice daily

Physical signs to consider for mating

Too earlyToo early Vulva heavily red and swollenVulva heavily red and swollenHardly any mucus on vaginal mucosaHardly any mucus on vaginal mucosaNegative back pressure test, only standing Negative back pressure test, only standing reflex in presence of a boarreflex in presence of a boar

In timeIn time Vulva moderately red and swollenVulva moderately red and swollen Vaginal mucosa with mucusVaginal mucosa with mucus Positive back pressure testPositive back pressure test

Too lateToo late No redness or swelling of vulvaNo redness or swelling of vulva Sticky vaginal mucosaSticky vaginal mucosa Negative back pressure test, only Negative back pressure test, only standing reflex in presence of a boarstanding reflex in presence of a boar

Gilt "in heat", immobile Gilt with swollen

vulva, secondary sign of estrus

Gilt with swollen vulva,

secondary sign of estrus

Gilt standing for "back pressure" test

Boars Best environment to

enhance their breeding performance

Thermal stress should be prevented

Expose to females : (20:1) Avoid slippery floors Breeding records should

be maintained

Semen Collection Corkscrew penis Pressure sensitive Electroejaculation not

recommended Mounting dummy

Don’t touch shaft/body of penis

3 – 7 minutes Ejaculate – 30 ⁰C Rest boars every 2-3 days SOW BOAR

Semen Processing The sperm-rich fraction is filtered from the gel

fraction of the ejaculate Evaluated Diluted with semen extender Fresh and cooled semen are more effective

than cryopreserved High quality ejaculate: 8 – 10 inseminations (each

has 1-2 billion sperm)

Artificial Insemination 2 – 3 breedings per estrus

Middle of 2-3 days of estrus 12 hours after standing

heat and another one 12 hours later

3 inseminations/ estrus Heterospermic

insemination Semen from 2 boars better

Parturition - Preparation Deworm 10 days before

farrowing Ectoparasite control before

putting in farrowing house Wash throughly Tx for mange and lice

Light bedding: 1-2 inch. Worn shavings, corn cobs, straw or stalks

125 W infra red light: neonates need: 90-95 ⁰F; mum need: 60 – 65 ⁰F

Clinical Signs of Impending Parturition

Vulva swelling Labial mucosa

hyperemic Mammary gland

enlargement Milk: 12 to 24 hours Respiratory rates

increase: Several hours Restless and nesting

Parturition Stage 1: nesting

Vocalization Lateral recumbency

Stage 2 Farrowing interval: 16 minutes Stillbirth: 30 minutes or longer Vocalization All delivered in 4 to 6 hours

Stage 3; placenta (RP are uncommon): Complete within 4 hours

• Mostly at night• Legs are flexed and

breech can be normal ~ 45%

• Stillborn common: 5-7%• Induction:

– PG after 112days – parturition in 20-30 hrs

– Add oxytocin or xylazine

Maternal behavior

If savaging is observed remove other piglets

They do not vigorously lick their young

Mortality of neonate Don’t nurse Crushing by sow hypothermia

Dystocia Intervene after 45 – 60 min

with no progress Seek assistance after 45 to 60

minutes without progress Traction

Go in with pointed hand Mild traction with

malposition pig pullers, lambing

snares, nylon cord End of parturition –

retained fetus? Manual palp. / ultrasound

C-section

Less than 1%• uterine inertia: oxytocin (not if

piglet is stuck) and calcium• obstruction of birth canal: gilts

Dystocia (cont’d): Mild traction

Neonatal Care Oxygenation/pulse

assessment Hold downward and pump

HL Temperature regulation

high risk day 2-3 90 - 95⁰F

Umbilical cord 4-5 cm from umbilicus Dip 2% providone iodine Ligate: suture/string

Neonatal Care (cont’d) Nutrition (nursing)

Within minutes Like front teats “Bump weaning”: from large to small

litter: fall backs Once/ hr Note different milk replacer options in

book: runts Bonding Meconium Passive transfer of antibodies: within 12

hr Physical examination

Swine DentitionDeciduous Permanent

Swine 2(I 3/3 C 1/1 PM 3/3) = 28

2(I 3/3 C 1/1 PM 4/4 M3/3) = 44

Know table 22 – 3: Eruptions

Ages of pigs are important Neonates 0-3 weeks

<4 kg (8.8 lbs)

Weanlings/nursery 3-10 weeks 4-25 kg (8.8 – 55 lbs)

Growers/finisher 10-26 weeks 25-120 kg (55 – 264 lbs)

Breeders/adults >6-8 months >120 kg (> 264 lbs)

These piglets have approximately 6 months ahead of them before they go to market. (3 weeks nursing, 7 weeks in the nursery, and 16 weeks of grow-finish)

NUTRITION OMNIVORES Growth is depended on

Genetic inheritance Nutrition Care

Clean comfortable environment, deworming, vaccination

Average daily gain: 1.4 – 1.8 lb./day ~ 2 – 2.5 lb. feed/ 1 lb. pork

NUTRITION Purchased or farm raised feeds

Fiber Corn, oats, wheat, barley, sorghum

Medium – fine particle Too fine: GI problems

Protein Essential AA: Arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine

Water ad lib

NUTRITION – BY AGE

Breeding Sows and Litters Limit fed for 1st two trimesters

4 – 6 lb. – 6-7000 kcal ME/ day Last trimester

9 – 10, 000 kcal ME/ day Lactation

15 – 20, 000 kcal ME/ day Fat: palatibility

NUTRITION – BY AGE

Starter/ Nursery diet Weaned 3 – 5 weeks

of age fed starter until 40 – 50 lb.

Ad lib Commercial pellet

high protein 20 – 24%

In the end transition to ground feed

Growing and Finishing Market Hogs

High protein and less energy Soybean meal, meat,

bone meal and synthetic amino acids (lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan)

Ground cereal grains: 85% of ration

Corn, wheat, sorghum and barley

Minerals and vitamins: Ca: P

NUTRITION - VITAMINS A: stabilized form D: bone growth and ossification

Direct sunlight for short period of time, Irradiated yeast, Sun cured hay, animal sterols, fish oils, vitamin A and D concentrate

E: with selenium: green forage, legume hays, cereal grains K Riboflavin: breeding stock and light weight pigs – green forage, milk

byproducts, brewer’s yeast Pantothenic acid: females, in crystalline within premixes, legume

meals, milk products, brewer’s yeast Choline: liver and kidneys, good for litter size, fish solubles, fish meal,

soybean meal B12: young pigs for growth and normal hemopoiesis, animal, marine

and milk products

NUTRITION - MINERALS Ca: P – skeletal growth

metabolism, gestation, lactation Tankage, meat meal, meat, bone, fish meal, limestone, oyster shells

NaCl: 0.25% of total diet, animal and fish by products Iodine: thyroid gland, iodized salt Fe and Cu: hemoglobin formation

Anemia: “baby thumps” sow milk lacks Fe Cobalt: with vitamin B12 Manganese: reproduction and growth K: feedstuffs Mg: growth Zn: prevent parakeratosis Selenium: soil , with vitamin E

The Swine Industry Phases

Farrowing Breeding, gestation

and farrowing Growing or nursery

Here for 8 – 10 wk. 40-60 lb 1.4 – 1.8 lb/day

Finishing Reach market weight 220-260 lb

Farrow to finish: 5- 6 months

All in one facility

Farrowing Farrowing

3 to 4 lb Weaned

3 to 8 weeks of age

10 to 25 lb

Growing and Finishing

Nursery 8 to 10 weeks 40 to 60 lb

Finishing Market weight: 220 to 260 lb ADG of 1.4 to 1.8 lb per day Breeding to market is 9 to 10 months Farrowing to market is 5 to 6 months

Growing and Finishing (cont’d)

Slaughter Marketed

Auction Contract

Price Weight Carcass merit

USDA Grading System Barrow and gilt grades are No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No.4, and U.S.

Utility. Slaughter sow grades are U.S. No. 1, U.S. No. 2, U.S. No. 3,

Medium, and Cull. Feeder pigs grades are U.S. No. 1, U.S. No. 2, U.S. No. 3, U.S.

No. 4 U.S. Utility, and U.S. Cull.

Pig management

Backyard herds All in / all out SPF (Specific pathogenic free) Segregated early weaning Depop / repop

Swine Housing 99% of all swine

are housed in confinement Respiratory

disease Husbandry effects

disease

Confinement: Individual Stalls

Pros Ability to separate groups of animals

for individual care More control of environment

Cons Labor intensive Expensive to maintain

Confinement Requirements

Cement or slotted floors Easily cleaned Decrease in disease

Well ventilated Remove water vapor, contaminants, and odors Provide cooling in summer

Waste handling and holding facility Lagoons Holding tanks Prevent run-off; many laws to abide

AIAO or continuous flow

Confinement housing is where most pigs in US live

Violations in Pig Flow

Drying off cull sows in grower/ finishing

(pen separately or remove immediately) Putting poor doer nurseries back with

younger animals (Nurseries must operate as AIAO)

Any movement of older sows through nurseries

Violations in Human Flow

Nursery or farrowing not worked first

Walking through gestation or grow/finish to get through nurseries or farrowing

Air Quality Air quality is the number one concern to swine

growers and pigs alike. Gases in swine housing

Ammonia: <10 ppm Respiratory irritant from manure

Hydrogen sulfide < 10 ppm Respiratory irritant from manure

Carbon monoxide: Not to exceed 150 ppm Caused by gas heaters; lethal to humans and pigs

Methane: Should not exceed 50,000 ppm From manure; not toxic, but explosive!

Dust Caused by movement, respiratory irritant, can be explosive!

Acclimation and Socialization

It should be remembered that pigs are social animals and have a rigid dominance hierarchy.

If animals are group housed they will generally fight to establish dominance for the first 24-48 hours.

Dominance in pigs is almost directly related to size. The largest animals are dominant and smallest are submissive

Swine Restraint Stubborn but smart Herding instinct: not strong Vocal: squeal and scream: panic, stress, fear: EAR PLUGS Easily heat stressed

dyspnea, tail twitching, reluctance to move, muscle tremors, rigidity, hyperthermia

Tapping on the back/ neck can show dominance before handling

Not athletic but fast Aggression: sows with babies and boars with tusks

Biting Barking Tusks

Animal-Human Contact

aware of your presence. startled: injury to

themselves or others in the pen.

aware of your presence: voice.

learn to recognize voices, especially if they are associated with food

Swine Restraint (cont’d)

Herding Difficult to do in open area Boards Blindfolding a pig causes it to walk

backward

Moving pigs

best moved in a metal (box style) transport designed for use with large animals.

Handheld wooden/ plastic panels: “hurdles”/ pig boards/ hog panels

remember pigs will move away from walls toward openings

Swine Restraint (cont’d)

Herding Difficult to do in open area Boards Blindfolding a pig causes it to walk

backward

Flags and paddles

Forms of swine restraint:

Hog snare Upper maxilla Minor procedures (< 20-30 mins)

Injections, blood samples Never use on piglets Boars with tusks: loop behind tusks Cyanosis: STOP Vocalize

Commercial hog snare

Forms of swine restraint:

Snubbing rope Casting rope Leg hobbles Piglet restraint

hog snare. side of the pig and

carefully loops the snare over the upper jaw just in front of the cheek teeth or as far back in mouth as possible

snare is tightened: pig resents this and will resist by pulling back against the snare.

This allows the handler to brace against the pig and hold it steady for examination or sample collection.

Snubbing rope

• Vocalization• Lean back

with rope on

RopeEffective in crated sows

V troughs feeder pig: V trough. Both hind legs are held

by an assistant and the forelegs are pulled back to allow access for blood collection.

Piglets pile up in the corner: capture one by grabbing onto the hind legs that are presented.

legs are thin and somewhat easily fractured;

catching them or tying them by the legs must be done carefully.

Piglet Restraint By back legs Gentle but firm Do not chase or

catch by ears, front legs, or tails

Squealing upsets sows

V troughs Procedures such as ear

notching and bleeding can be done with the pig in this position.

Note that pigs will squeal the entire time they are restrained in this fashion, and all handlers should wear ear protection as demonstrated by the individual performing the blood collection.

Physiological Data Temperature

101º to 103.5º F Pulse rate

60 to 90 per minute; 200 to 280 per minute in newborns

Respiration rate 10 to 24 per minute; up to 50 in very young swine

Adult weight Varies by breed

Weigh your pig firstHR

Herding panel

Blood collection Jugular vein / anterior vena cava Cephalic Vein Orbital Sinus Tail Vein

IV injection Auricular vein Rubberband

Pig medicine: chapter 23

Common Bleeding Ports

External Jugular Vein

Auricular (ear) vein

Facial Vein

Orbital venous sinus

Bleeding tools: Vacutainer

Maximum safe blood drawAge & weight Total blood

volume, mLMaximum draw, mL

Newborn, 3 lb 110 10

Nursery pig, 35 lb

1,280 120

Sow, 440 lb 16,000 1,600

Selected normal blood values: Table 23-1

Measure Value

Blood volumePCV%: 32 – 50 (42)

8 %

WBC count (x 106 / ul) 11 – 22 (16)

Seg. Neutrophils (%)Bands: 0-2%

28 - 47

Lymphocytes (%) 39 - 62

Gamma globulin 25-30 mg/mL

Bleeding Trough for Young Pigs

Venous Blood Sampling (cont’d)

Venous Blood Sampling Lateral auricular vein

<5 ml After weaning age: 4-5 wks age, 25 lbs Butterfly catheter A 20-gauge × 1-in needle Large adults 18- to 20-gauge × 1-in needle Vacutainers are not recommended (collapse vein in

small animals) Coccygeal vein

Infrequently used

Infusion sets are also commercially available, consisting of a tube connected to a needle. These 'butterfly needles' must be fastened to the skin using adhesive tape or a louse.

Their great advantage is the flexibility of the tubing. These sets are available in a variety of sizes, such as 19 and 21 gauge

Use for larger volumes of solutions

Pigs cannot sweat and blood circulation through the ears is important for temperature regulation. In a warm environment the veins are more dilated and blood collection is facilitated.

When the vein has been punctured, the emerging blood can be collected directly by capillary action into appropriate tubes. This technique is suitable for measurement of haematocrit and haemoglobin levels, and for making blood smears.

I.V. injections It is possible to

undertake intravenous injections using the ear veins even on newborn piglets.

The needle and ear are fixed between the operator's thumb and forefinger. When this has been done, the assistant can stop raising the vein and the injection can begin

Intravenous injections and solutions for fluid therapy are most often given in the lateral auricular (ear) vein

This picture shows the central ear vein (the intermediate auricular vein) on a young sow.

The animal has been given azaperone as a sedative. This compound has the added advantage of causing peripheral vasodilatation, making the vein more readily accessible.

A venous catheter equipped with a stiletto (Braunule, 18 gauge) has been inserted into the vein.

Rubber band on the ear

Bleeding sows

Large animals are restrained standing usually with long snare, the head should be raised slightly

Pigs weighing between 20 and 50 kg can either be held on their backs in a 'trough' or immobilized with a snout rope

The external jugular vein

Most common for adult pigs

The animal must be held using a snout rope and the neck must be stretched well upwards. This is best achieved if the pig stands on all four legs.

The rope is placed behind the canine teeth so that it does not slip off so easily or move rostrally towards the nasal cartilage

Venous Blood Sampling (cont’d)

Jugular vein: L phrenic nerve is parallel to left jugular vein Safer to access as not so deep but

smaller so may be hard to hit in small animals

Difficult to find Piglets: 20-gauge × 1 1/2-in needle Mature: 16-gauge × 3- to 3 1/2-in needle Right jugular: Avoid phrenic nerve

The correct point of venipuncture is illustrated in this picture.

The needle should be directed caudo-dorsally, in this case perpendicular to the skin.

The correct puncture site is in the deepest point of the jugular groove formed between the medial sternocephalic and lateral brachiocephalic muscles

A vacuum tube has been connected, and the needle inserted in its full length. This is important, since these needles are really slightly too short for large sows.

It is vital that the needle holder is held firmly if the operator wishes to change vacuum tubes

Perpendicular, and dorsocaudal

Venous Blood Sampling (cont’d) Cranial vena cava: gives rise to both R and L

jugular vein Useful for large blood volumes Right side: Avoid phrenic nerve Piglets: 20-gauge × 1 1/2-in needle Small pigs up to 50 pounds: 18- to 20-gauge × 1 to 1

1/2-in needle Dorsal recumbency Needle directed at opposite shoulder Caution: R vagus nerve affect parasym. to the heart

and R phrenic nerve affect diaphragm

Cranial vena cava Lies in the thoracic

inlet between the first pair of ribs

Lateral to manubrium

R side: avoid damage to the phrenic nerve.

Venipuncture of the cranial vena cava in a small pig restrained in dorsal recumbency

Cranial Vena Cava If the needle hits a

rib, pull backward slightly and try different angle .

Collecting blood from the cranial vena cava in a standing pig. The needle is inserted at the caudal extent of the right jugular furrow, lateral to the manubrium

Venous Blood Sampling (cont’d) Orbital sinus (medial canthus of the eye)

Use 5 to 10 ml Small pigs: Dorsal recumbency Adults: Hog snare Piglets: 20- to 20-gauge × 1-in needle Larger pigs: 16- to 20-gauge × 1 1/2-in needle

Orbital Sinus (Medial Canthus of the

Eye)

Collection of blood from the medial canthus of the eye

Venipuncture of the left orbital sinus. Note the firm manual restraint of the head.

Cephalic vein newborn piglets and

weanling animals Not as common small amounts of blood

from animals weighing less than 10-15 kg.

20-50 kg, it is possible, with some training

Milk vein The milk vein (the

subcutanous abdominal vein) is easily visible lateral to the teats on smaller pigs.

For blood sampling a vacuum tube and a 20 gauge needle is used. The needle is inserted where the vein is most visible.

The tail vein

The medial caudal vein lies in a groove under the tail, next to the artery.

The operator raises the tail with one hand and punctures the vein with the other.

Vacuum tubes and 20 gauge needles are used.

The puncture site is at the first freely movable tail joint. This is around the fifth tail vertebra.

Oral Medication

Feed or water Oral speculums

Injections

Giving injections

Subcutaneous Injection Injections in small pigs (<50 lb)

Auxiliary area caudal to the elbow Inguinal region in the flank skin fold Nursery piglets: 16- to 18-gauge × 1/2-in needle Use 1 to 2 ml

In larger pigs Hog snare Loose skin behind the base of the ear Finishing hogs: 16-gauge × 3/4-in needle Breeding stock: 14- to 16-gauge × 1-in needle Up to 3 ml may be injected per site

Intramuscular Injection Dorsal neck muscle behind the ears Baby piglets: 18- to 20-gauge × 5/8- to 1/2-in needle Nursery pigs: 16- or 18-gauge × 3/4- to 5/8-in needle Finishing to breeding stock: 14- to 16-gauge × 1- to 1

1/2-in needle Do not exceed 2 ml in piglets or 3 ml in larger pigs

Intramuscular Injection IM The prime cuts of

pork come from the hams, loins, and shoulder areas.

Therefore intramuscular injections are preferably given in the dorsal neck muscle behind the ears

Intramuscular Injection (cont’d)

Euthanasia Barbiturate IV injection Carbon dioxide gas: The only chemical used for euthanasia that

does not leave tissue residues IV potassium chloride (KCl) in conjunction with general anesthesia;

anesthesia must be induced first Penetrating captive bolt Inhalant anesthetic gases (overdose) Carbon monoxide Chloral hydrate IV after sedation Gunshot Electrocution: Applied to the head Concussion (blow) to the head: Only suitable for animals younger

than 3 weeks of age; must be applied by trained personnel in order to be humane

Necropsy – Why?

To improve the herd health To contribute to the herd health

program To identify causes of illness or

death so that Effective treatments can be

applied Preventative measures can be

implemented

Necropsy – What to look for Skin condition Swollen joints Wounds or abscesses Intestinal condition (fluid-filled, bloody,

gas, etc) Lung condition (hemorrhage, non-

functional tissues, edema, etc.) Liver condition (look for milk spots;

indication of a parasitic infection) Condition of other organs (kidneys,

spleen, heart) Snout condition (condition of the

turbinates)

Necropsy – “normal”

Necropsy -- Tools

Scalpel Probes (spatula or equivalent) Saw (hack saw or equivalent) Water Mechanism to dispose of parts

(plastic bags)

References

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/swine/7080.html

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an051 K Holtgrew-Bohling , Large Animal

Clinical Procedures for Veterinary Technicians, 2nd Edition, Mosby, 2012, ISBN: 97803223077323

References http://www.thepigsite.com/video/single/41/ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an051 http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/html_pubs/pigs/

pigs.htm http://www.ncsu.edu/project/swine_extension/

publications/factsheets/812s.htm http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/swine/porkpage/

repro/physiol/reppaper.htm http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/swine/porkpage/

repro/physiol/reppaper.htm http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/

vet_accreditation/nvap_modules/FIT/FIT/fit0085.htm