Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
•Whenyouvisitanotherfarmwiththepurposeoflookingatbreedingstock,makesureyou
ask plenty of questions. Ask how the pigs are being raised, what they eat, if they have
hadanydiseases,howtheyhavebeenwormed,iftheywerebrednaturallyorbyartificial
insemination (AI), and anything else you think is pertinent.
• You will want to keep your eyes open and observe the farm. Is it well kept? Do the pigs
seemhappy?Mudandmanurearenormalpartsofhograising,butyouwillwanttomake
sure any pig you buy for breeding comes from a farm that is not prone to disease. You
willwanttomakesurethepigsyoubuyhavenotbeenstressedundulybecausethiscould
affect their fertility.
• Finally, try to obtain breeding stock that comes from a farm similar to yours. It is easier
for pigs to adapt to a new place if they will be going to a farm that is operated using the
same methods.
Your eyes should be able to tell you if the gilts or sows are in good flesh. As with young pigs,
gilts and sows for breeding should have bright eyes and be lively, with no signs of illness. You
should select the largest, most well-developed gilts available. If you are breeding purebred
pigs, you will need to know more about the correct conformation for your breed but, in gener-
al, a good gilt will have a good body capacity — in other words, she will be long and wide in
the middle. This will give her plenty of room to carry a large litter of piglets. She should have
at least six pairs of evenly spaced mammary glands. She should have a somewhat level
topline or spine along the top of her back, which will contribute to staying physically sound.
Her hooves should be big and well formed. Ideally, your gilt or sow will have large hams as
well.
The trend today is toward longer, leaner pigs instead of the cobby or rounded pigs often seen
in the past. Pork today is about 30 percent leaner than it was in the 1950s due to selection for
leaner pigs and different body types. It compares favorably with chicken and beef in terms of
calories and fat.
The female reproductive system
The female pig reproductive system consists of a right and left ovary, one cervix, uterus, ovi-
duct, vagina, and vulva. The internal sexual reproductive organs are located beneath the
rectum in the abdomen. They are supported internally by a strong connective tissue that thick-
ens during pregnancy.
