ANSC 603 Hogs and Pigs

What digestive system do pigs have?

Monogastric digestive system

What makes a pig a sow or a boar?

Sow - female pig that has had at least one liter

Boar - intact male

How to handle hogs?

What type of breeds would you use for pork production?

Breeds with rapid growth

Vaccinations for breeding stock?

• Leptospirosis: abortion, small liter, weak piglets

  • Spread through urine (zoonotic)

• Parvovirus: reproductive issues, infertility

  • Spread through manure

• Erysipelas: failure to thrive, arthiritis, death

  • Spread through direct contact (zoonotic)

Caring for sows

• Spend time with your sows

• Know behaviors of each sow and health history

• Cull aggressive sows

Heat detection?

• Swollen vulva

• Stands still when weight is applied to back

• Increased vocalization

• Lack of appetite

• increased activity

• Increased interest in other hogs

M.M.A

Within a few days of farrowing

• Mastitis: mammary infection

• Metritis: Uterine infection

• Agalactia: Reduction or loss of milk production

Prevention: cleanliness, good nutrition, know your sow

Treatment: consult vet, antibiotics, oxytocin

When to cull sows?

1. Poor health

   • Lameness

   • Poor body condition

   • Disease

2. Decreased productivity

   • failure to cycle

   • higher stillbirth rates

   • Low weaning weights

   • old age

processing piglets

• iron shots

• needle teeth

• tail docking

• castration

• deworming