BASC106B - TERMINOLOGIES

Abortion

Premature expulsion of the fetus from the uterus.

Afterbirth

Collective term for membranes, placenta, and other tissues expelled after pig birth.

Anemia

A deficiency of hemoglobin, iron, or red blood cells.

Antibiotic

A medication used to destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

Antiseptic

Substances or procedures that prevent the growth and reproduction of microorganisms.

Average Daily Gain

Amount of weight gained per day per pig during a defined period of time.

Boar

Sexually mature uncastrated male hog usually kept for breeding.

Breeding herd

All replacement boars, service boars, replacement gilts, and sows present on a farm.

Cannibalism

Behavior pattern where one pig bites or chews some part of another.

Castration

Removal of testicle.

Confinement

Holding swine in a restricted area.

Culling

Process of eliminating unwanted or poor-quality animals from the breeding herd.

Dam

Female parent/mother of any domesticated animal.

Embryo

Developing animal in the early stages following the joining of the egg and sperm.

Estrus

The period wherein the female animal is sexually responsive to the male.

Farrow

To give birth.

Farrowing

The act of giving birth to pigs.

Farrowing crate

Stall in which the sow is confined during farrowing and lactation.

Farrowing interval

Number of days between two consecutive farrowings for an individual sow.

Feed conversion

Amount of feed consumed per pig to produce one pound of body weight gain.

Finisher/Fattener

Swine fattened for slaughter.

Gilt

A young female swine usually kept for breeding and not yet given birth.

Heat

Estrus; period during which the female is sexually receptive.

Inbreeding

Type of mating system where animals produced are more closely related than the average.

Line breeding

Type of mating system used to concentrate the genes of a particular ancestor.

Litter weight

Total birth weight of the live pigs in a litter.

Litter size

The number of offspring produced at one birth by an animal.

Mummified pigs

Pigs born discolored and shriveled or decomposed, having died during gestation.

Necropsy

Examination involving dissecting a dead animal to learn the cause of its death.

Nursery

Area where pigs are moved following weaning.

Pathogen

Agent causing disease or illness, such as bacteria, protozoa, or nematodes.

Pedigree

Listing of names of an animal’s ancestors.

Placenta

Structure attaching the navel of an unborn pig to the sow’s uterus for nutrient supply.

Progeny

Offspring of an animal.

Quarantine

Separation of sick animals from healthy animals and new arrivals.

Replacement gilt

Gilt of superior quality selected to join the breeding herd.

Slatted floor

Floor with openings for urine or manure to fall through.

Stillborn pigs

Fully-developed pigs found dead after farrowing.

Tail biting

Specific form of cannibalism in pigs.

Total pigs born

All pigs born in a litter, live, stillborn, or mummified.

Vaccination

Medicine or antigen given with a syringe and a needle.

Vaccine

Medication containing live, modified, or dead organisms to protect against disease.