Large animal nursing: pigs + camelids

Pig common name

porcine

Wild pig scientific name

sus scrofa

Domestic pig scientific name

sus scrofa domesticus

Domestic pig relatives

• warthog *think pumba

• pygmy hog (endangered)

Anatomy and physiology of pigs

• cannot sweat (pants)

• harvesting weight = 250 lbs

• milk production: anterior teats > posterior teats

duroc: red pig

chester white

• pink, droopy ears

• highly susceptible to sun-scald

• no free-reign diet

berkshire

• black/white, erect ears

• resistant to sun-scald

spotted: black/white spots

Pot-belly: black with white straight tail

hampshire

• black/white belt

• lean muscle, high carcass quality, large loins, minimal backfat

landrace

• white, BIG droopy ears

• highly susceptible to sun-scald

• no free-reign diet

saddleback: black with white band, droopy ears

tamworth

• brown, erect ears

• resistant to sun-scald

• ideal breeders

Farrowing

pig giving birth

Pig gestation

3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days

Piglets per litter

6-14

Barrow

castrated male pig

Boar

intact male pig

Runt

smallest piglet

Shoat/hoag

growing piglet

Gilt

pig reaching sexual maturity at 8 months

Mummification

dead piglets carried to term weighing 2.5 pounds or less

Split-suckle

seperating litter into assigned feeding times

Cross-fostering

reduce weight variation among the piglets

Creep feeding benefits

• promote gut + digestive health

• improve growth rate

• allow for better weaning transition

Maternal line

increased pigs/litter size, milk production, docile temperament

Terminal line

fast growth, meaty, lean, durable

Plastic sorting boards

• helps us move pigs

• note hold firmly

Rattle pads

visual and auditory aid to help move pigs

Invading pig’s flight zone

will move away from you

Approaching a pig from behind the shoulder

the pig will move forward

Euthanasia in pigs

• captive bolt: penetrating(brain)/non-penetrating

• electrical stunning: pigs/sheep, tonic/clonic phase

• CO2: most common, irritates respiratory tract, 20 seconds to take effect

Piglet processing

tail docking, castration, iron injection, cut umbilical cord, extract needle teeth

Piglet tail docking

• clippers: pull skin of tail toward rump and cut

• Cauterization: hold tail and cauterize

Piglet castration

no anesthesia

Immunocastration

• pros: less invasive, better-quality meat, improves growth

• cons: strict administration times, regulations/market acceptance

Ear notching system

• left = individual

• right = litter number

Pig blood draw sites

• lateral auricular vein (marginal ear): 45 degrees angle

• jugular vein: most common; 90 degree angle

Types of pig injections

• SQ

• IM: most common, lateral neck muscles

Porcine congenital splay leg syndrome

• aka pcs

• one of the most common causes of piglet death

• tape legs together to prevent

• if front and back legs are affected = euthanasia

PSS

• aka malignant hyperthermia, transport myopathy, soft-pale exudative pork

• ryanodine receptor (RYR1): large release sustained muscle contraction and increased metabolic rate, excess heat production

Aujeszky’s disease

• aka pseudorabies

• cns signs in piglets

Exudative edpidermitis

aka greasy pig

Osteomalacia

malnourished bones due to poor diet and waste food (pig swill)

Mastitis

mammary gland inflammation

Metritis

uterine infection

Aglactica

decreased milk production

Sodium chloride toxicity

due to dehydration

Atrophic rhinitis

caused by bordetella bronchiseptica

White scours

caused by e. coli

Tylopoda

calloused foot in pigs

Artiodactyle

even-toed

Huarizo

alpaca and llama hybrid

Kushing

camelid laying down + folding their forelimbs over their hindlimbs

Cria

baby camelid

Camelid GI tract

• dental pad 

• regularly scheduled feedings 

• C1 = rumen, C2 = reticulum, C3 = abomasum

Camelus dromarius

• aka dromedary

• one-humped camel

Camelus bactranius

aka bactranian

two-humped camel

Wild bacterian

• Red blood cells can expand to 240% to allow larger volumes of water 

• Gestation: 13-15 months 

• Mature 7 years 

aka camelus ferus

Vicuna

• smallest camelid

• lives in south america

• deer-like frame

Llamas appearance

• ears: long curved bananas 

• straight face think emporers new groove 

Ulcers in alpacas

signs = teeth grinding, hypersalivation, black stool

Choanal atresia

congenital disease affecting the respiratory tract

Mycoplasma haemolamae

mild to marked anemia in stressed/immunocompromised camelids

Parelaphostrongylus tenuis  

aka meningeal or brain worm

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

• Wry face: jaw displacement 

caused by caseous lymphadenitis (bacteria)

Hepatic lipidosis

fatty liver

E. mac

• origin: south africa

• large cocci, widespread in u.s

Wry face

jaw displacement in camelids