VET 110 Unit 3 - Pig breeds

Landrace

Originated in Denmark, large drop ears, known for their maternal instincts, white, long, flatter-topped than other breeds.

Berkshire

Originated in England, black with white legs, snout and switch, once kept at Buckingham Palace, known for producing high quality meats, erect ears.

Chester White

Originated in Chester County, Pennsylvania, white with small, floppy, drop ears, mothering breed, known to produce large litters.

Duroc

Originated in the United States, solid red, long, drop ears, slight dish to the face, excellent meat type hog.

Hampshire

Originated in the United States, probably the oldest American breed, black with a white belt, small, erect ears, well-known meat breed.

Poland China

Originated in the US, noted for ability to easily gain weight, quiet dispositions, black with white snouts, legs and switch, generally poor mothers, medium drop ears.

Spotted

Developed in Indiana, black and white spots, efficient feeders, noted for rapid weight gain, drop ears, slight dish face.

Yorkshire

Originated in England, white, large, erect ears, known as 'The Mother Breed', produces large litters, bacon-type hog.

pig identification

ear notching, ear tags, branding, tattoos

total amount of feed increased by 30%...

in the last trimester

nursing piglets need:

sow colostrum, iron supplements

porcine estrous cycle

21 days; Proestrus, estrus, diestrus, anestrus

breeding methods

hand mating, pen running, artificial insemination

suckling

should occur every 45-60 mins

Estrus

1-4 days (avg 40-60 hours), female is responsive, ovulation occurs 36-44 hrs after onset

Diestrus

lasts 18 days if female pigs is not pregnant and will show a lack of sexual receptivity

Proestrus

follicular development intensifies as the corpora lutea in non pregnant pig starts to regress

Anestrus

mainly seen when sows lactate