✔️FAM L26: Swine Production Phases & Principals of Biosecurity

FAM L26: Swine Production Phases & Principals of Biosecurity

FAM L26: Swine Production Phases & Principals of Biosecurity

What are the major phases of swine production?

Breeding/gestation, farrowing, nursery & finishing

What ages are pigs in the nursery phase?

3-10 weeks

What ages are pigs in the finishing phase?

10-25+ weeks

What ages are pigs in wean-to-finish production?

3-25+ weeks

What is the main advantage of wean-to-finish production?

One less movement of pigs

What are the 5 major inputs affecting swine production?

Genetics, nutrition, environment, health & management

What is the main purpose of specialized swine production facilities?

Improve efficiency & disease control

What happens in a breeding/gestation barn?

Breeding & housing pregnant/nonpregnant sows

What happens in a farrowing room?

Sows give birth & nurse piglets

At what age are piglets typically weaned?

3-4 weeks

What is the gestation length of a sow?

114-115 days

What are the 2 major swine genetic lines?

Maternal & terminal

What traits are selected in maternal lines?

Fertility, litter size & milk production

What traits are selected in terminal lines?

Fast growth, leanness & muscling

What 2 common breeds are used as maternal lines?

Yorkshire & Landrace

What 2 common breeds are used as terminal sires?

Duroc & Hampshire

What breed is white with erect ears?

Yorkshire

What breed is white with large drooping ears?

Landrace

What breed is solid red and selected for growth & muscling?

Duroc

What breed is black with a white belt?

Hampshire

A producer wants to improve litter size & milk production. Which genetic line should be selected?

Maternal line

A producer wants faster-growing pigs with lean carcasses. Which genetic line should be selected?

Terminal line

What is a common cross used to produce F1 maternal females?

Yorkshire × Landrace

What is heterosis?

Hybrid vigor from crossbreeding

What is the swine genetic hierarchy?

Nucleus → multiplier → commercial

What is the role of nucleus herds?

Maintain & improve elite genetics

What is the role of multiplier herds?

Produce breeding stock for commercial farms

What is the purpose of commercial herds?

Produce market pigs

What reproductive method is used for approximately 99% of US commercial sows?

Artificial insemination (AI)

Why is artificial insemination widely used in swine?

Better genetics, fewer boars & reduced injury/disease spread

Where is semen collected for commercial swine AI?

Boar studs

How often is fresh semen typically delivered to sow farms?

2-3 times weekly

What method is used for boar semen collection?

Gloved-hand method

What minimum sperm motility is listed for semen evaluation?

60%

How is total sperm number calculated?

Concentration × volume

How many sperm are listed per AI dose?

3-5 billion normal motile sperm

At what temperature should delivered boar semen be stored?

60-62°F

What disease must boars be tested for before semen is used?

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS)

For PRRS screening at a boar stud should blood or semen be tested?

Boar blood

Why is breeding considered the most important job on a sow farm?

It determines future pig production & barn utilization

What happens when weekly breeding targets are not met?

Empty nursery/finishing space & financial losses

What is a gilt developer unit (GDU)?

Separate facility for raising replacement gilts

At what age are replacement gilts brought toward the sow farm?

4-6 months

Why are replacement gilts isolated before entering the sow herd?

Prevent disease introduction & allow acclimation/vaccination

At what age do gilts typically reach puberty?

7-8 months

At what body weight should gilts generally be bred?

Over 300 lb

At which estrus are gilts typically first bred?

Second estrus

Why are sows grouped by expected farrowing date?

Create similar-aged piglet groups for all-in/all-out management

What is the main purpose of farrowing crates?

Prevent piglet crushing by the sow

What is usually the largest contributor to preweaning mortality?

Piglet crushing (overlays)

When is piglet crushing risk highest?

First few days after birth

A producer reports multiple piglets crushed shortly after birth. What management issue should be evaluated?

Farrowing crate management

What are the 3 basic environmental priorities in a nursery?

Feed, water & air

What should be done with small or poorly performing nursery pigs?

Separate, monitor & treat individually

According to the lecture what are water medications commonly used for?

Treatment

According to the lecture what are feed medications commonly used for?

Prevention

What is the difference between nursery & finishing management?

Nursery focuses on newly weaned pigs; finishing focuses on growth to market

At what age do pigs typically enter finishing barns?

9-11 weeks

At what age do pigs typically reach market?

25+ weeks

Why are underweight or overweight market pigs undesirable?

Packing plant discounts

How is pigs per sow per year calculated?

Litters per sow per year × pigs weaned per litter

What does ADG stand for?

Average daily gain

What does F/G stand for?

Feed-to-gain ratio

What does an F/G of 2.5 mean?

2.5 lb feed consumed per 1 lb weight gained

Is a lower or higher F/G more efficient?

Lower

A farm has 2.5 litters per sow per year and weans 10 pigs per litter. How many pigs per sow per year?

25

What is preweaning mortality?

Deaths from birth to weaning

What is postweaning mortality?

Deaths from weaning to market

What are 3 major advantages of multi-site swine production?

Disease control, age-specific management & reduced transmission

Why is farrow-to-finish production at one site a disease-control challenge?

Older pigs repeatedly infect younger pigs

What disease highlighted the problems of single-site production?

PRRS

What is all-in/all-out (AIAO) production?

Move similar-aged pigs together & empty/clean facilities between groups

What is the main benefit of all-in/all-out production?

Break disease transmission cycles

What type of pigs should be grouped together in AIAO production?

Similar-aged pigs with similar health status

What should happen between AIAO groups?

Wash, disinfect & dry the facility

A nursery continuously adds young pigs without emptying rooms. What biosecurity principle is being violated?

All-in/all-out

Why should older & younger pigs be separated?

Prevent transmission between age groups

What is the correct order for cleaning a swine barn?

Remove organic material → wash → disinfect → dry

Why must organic material be removed before disinfection?

It reduces disinfectant effectiveness

What determines proper disinfectant dilution & contact time?

Product label

What disinfectant contact time is given as an example in the lecture?

10 minutes

Approximately how long should barns dry after disinfection according to the lecture?

12 hours

Why is drying important after disinfection?

Reduces remaining pathogens

What can improve barn drying in cold conditions?

Heat & ventilation

Besides barns what transport equipment must be cleaned & disinfected?

Trucks & trailers

What is biosecurity?

Measures that prevent disease introduction & spread

What is external biosecurity?

Prevent disease from entering the farm

What is internal biosecurity?

Prevent disease spread within the farm

A veterinarian uses contaminated boots between barns on the same farm. What type of biosecurity is compromised?

Internal biosecurity

A delivery truck brings a pathogen onto a previously negative farm. What type of biosecurity failed?

External biosecurity

What are potential biosecurity risks on swine farms?

Visitors, vehicles, equipment, clothing & outside animal contact

What is the purpose of filtering incoming barn air?

Reduce airborne pathogen introduction

What vehicle precautions should veterinarians take before visiting swine farms?

Clean vehicle, dry floor mats & dedicated parking

Why should vehicles park away from barn air inlets?

Reduce contamination entering ventilation systems

What should veterinarians wear when walking from their vehicle to the farm entrance?

Protective boots or plastic boot covers

What visitor history should be checked before entering a swine farm?

Previous pig contact, herd health status & downtime

What should happen to phones & equipment before farm entry?

Disinfect or treat as required by farm protocol

What is the purpose of the clean/dirty line?

Prevent outside contamination crossing into clean areas

Why are farm-specific clothes used?

Prevent disease introduction on clothing