Swine Unit Review

Berkshire

Poland China

Spotted Poland China

Duroc

Hampshire

Chester White

Landrace

Yorkshire

Pietrain

young pig 

piglet

a female before giving birth

gilt

a female after giving birth

sow

intact male

boar

castrated male

barrow

to give birth

farrow(-ing)

# of litters had from a sow

parity

age to breed is 

8 - 10 months 

age to wean

~21 days

gestation length

114 days (3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days)

commercial industry average for litters of pigs

2.3/yr

average litter size 

8-12

ear notching

litter # - pig #

USDA inspector checks…

Food Safety

pigs have…

few sweat glands

USDA grader checks…

meat quality (palatability)

S

Subcutaneous Fat

• under the skin

• “back fat”

IAM

Intramuscular fat

• within the muscle

• “marbling”

IEM

Intermuscular fat

• between muscles

• “seam fat”

USDA swine grades range from…

1-4

a score of 4 is…

least desirable 

if quality is deemed unacceptable it is…

utility

a score of 1 is…

most desirable

earns a score of 1 if it has…

• minimal (S)

• IEM

• heavy muscle

3 factors that affect U.S swine grades

• Last rib back fat (LRBF)

• Muscle Score (MS)

• Quality

PSE stands for

Pale, Salt, Exudative

Some characteristics of PSE are…

• soft texture

• inability to hold water

• due to animal stress (prior to slaughter)

DFD stands for…

Dry, Firm, Dark

Some characteristics of DFD are…

• lack of water within muscle tissue

• due to long-term stress

• poor color; blood splash

Formula for US swine grade

[US Grade = (4*LRBF)-MS]

Calculation for HCW

HCW=LW*D%

Calculation for D%

D% =(HCW ÷ LW)*100

Calculation for LW

LW=HCW÷D%

Muscle Score of 3

extremely muscular

Muscle Score of 2

average muscled

Muscle Score of 1

inferior muscle