Pig Production

New vs Old Genotype

Chinese Meishan – Fat, but prolific

Picture from www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/swine/meishan

 New vs Old Genotype
Landrace

Picture from/www.globalswine.com/imagesforideas/landrace.jpg
 New vs Old Genotype
Large White

Picture from www.pasqualinonet.com.ar/images/Large%20White.jpg

 New vs Old Genotype
Duroc

Picture from clublambpage.com/lambright/images/2007/10-16/2600-Duroc_gilt.jpg

 New vs Old Genotype
Hampshire

Picture from www.eliteswineinc.com/images/2007/8-10-07/Speth-Hampshire.jpg

 Backfat measurement
• Consumer demand for leaner meat has
resulted in a much leaner carcass
 Backfat measurement
• P2 backfat measurement a good predictor
of carcass fat composition
% lean = 66 – 1.2(P2) + 0.076(carcass weight)

• Measured 65mm from the dorsal mid-line

at the level of the last rib
• In conjunction with Eye muscle depth
% lean = 59 – 0.9(P2) + 0.2(eye muscle depth)
Backfat measurement
 Backfat measurement
• With a Hennesey grading probe in hanging
carcasses – measurement taken btw 2nd & 3rd
last ribs 45mm from back line
% Hennesy lean = 72.5114 – 0.4618(fat thickness)
+ 0.057(eye muscle thickness)

• Calculation rounded to nearest 1% and

classified:
 Pork grading
• PORCUS system

Weaner <20kg
P  70% lean
O 68 – 69%
R 66 – 67%
C 64 – 65%
U 62 – 63%
S  61%
 Reproductive cycle
Conception
(260 d) weaning
birth

Puberty Farrowing/
(210 d) parturition

gestation

periods of oestrus (15 d)

Lactation (21 to 28 d) – will depend on weaning strategy

 Reproductive cycle
What events in the reproductive cycle can be
manipulated by the producer?

• birth – puberty (small extent)

• puberty – conception
• weaning – conception
• lactation length (weaning)
 AI in pigs
• To improve genetics
• More cost-effective
• Reduced risk of disease
 Oestrus detection
• start checking 4 d post-weaning
• Twice a day
• Visible signs? – swollen vulva, restlessness,
looking for boar, sometimes sows mount each
other
• Most accurate sign is back pressure/riding
test (esp in presence of a boar)
 When to inseminate?
• different views:
when observed in standing heat
if seen in am – AI pm (& vice versa)
Gilts 12h, sows 24 h after first observed
standing heat
• many will AI next day again (esp if still in
standing heat)
• This increases number born alive &
conception rate.
•3x AI not much more effective than 2x