Animal Science 160 Swine Lecture 1 Jessy ShanksSwine Terms • Sow – Female swine that has given birth • Boar – Intact male swine used for breeding • Gilt – Young female swine that has never given birth • Barrow – Castrated male swineSwine Terms • Farrowing – Giving birth (parturition) in swine • Nursery Pig – Weaned pig of light weight housed in nursery (10-15 lbs, 14-28 d) • Feeder Pig – Young pig weighing 30-90 poundsWorldwide Meat Consumption • Which type of meat has the highest consumption worldwide? • Pork • In the US, pork is third behind Beef and Chicken – Per capita consumption in US is 54.5 poundsWorld Swine Numbers Country No. Swine (mil head) 1. China 454 2. United States 59 3. Brazil 29 4. Germany 26 5. Russian Federation 19 World Total 923 Source: USDA, FAS (World Livestock Situation), FAOTop US Markets • Japan is easily our largest export market – Have direct impact on changes in pork quality standards (color, texture, lean quality) – Responsible for revitalization of a breed of hogs (Berkshires) • Canada is our largest importer of pork • US is net Exporter of pork – > $1.25 Billion vs. > $1.03 BillionWhy do these areas of US have high swine production? • Also location for major corn and soybean production • Other livestock enterprises – Beef feedlots, large dairies, poultry and turkey – Processing plants and livestock markets – Room for the odorHog Production Outside Corn Belt • Shift to North Carolina and lesser extent Oklahoma and Arkansas – Somewhat followed the poultry industry – Milder weather – Initially, less environmental restrictionsHog Production in Tennessee • TN currently ranks 24th in the US • Majority of TN hogs are in West TN – Weakley and Henry are top 2 counties – Corn production – Other Ag Enterprises • TN swine production is decreasing • Total number of hogs in TN is 225,000 (Tennessee Agriculture, 2002)How does this compare with the number of swine operations? 1993 1998 2000 Tennessee 6500 2500 1500 United States 229,000 150,000 130,000Structure of Industry • Feeder pig production • Feeder pig finishing • Farrow-to-finish operation • Purebred or seedstock • Integrated corporate productionFeeder Pig Production • Producer maintains a breeding herd and produces – Weaned pigs for sale at 10-15 pounds – Feeder pigs for sale at 35-50 pounds • These pigs will be shipped to a state with excess grain for finishing – Primarily mid-west region of USFeeder Pig Production Concentrates on farrowing and getting pigs weaned Farrowing is the most expensive segment of a swine operation due to facility cost Farrowing is also the most critical phase due to greatest death loss of baby pigs 1 - Crushing by sow 2 - E. coliFeeder Pig Finishing • Feeder pigs are purchased and fed to market weight app. 230-260 pounds – Primarily Corn and Soybean meal • Necessary complementary system to feeder pig production • Considered contract finishers – Add value to pigs – Make money by being efficientFarrow-to-Finish • Breeding herd is maintained • Pigs are produced and fed to a market weight of 230-260 pounds on same farm – Although will generally be different facilitiesFarrow-to-Finish Involves all phases of management from birth to market a. Farrowing b. Nursery c. FinishingPurebred or Seedstock • Very similar to farrow-to-finish • Products are breeding stock – Boars – Gilts – Show pigs • May be purebred or controlled crossbreedsIntegrated Corporate Production • Only growing segment of swine industry • Are generally farrow-to-finish and most often also have seedstock production • Different phases of production will be grouped and different segments be at different locationsPurebred Swine Operations Purebred Hog Operations or Seed Stock Producers Eight main US swine breeds that fall into two classifications Similar to farrow-to-finish except their saleable products are boars and gilts for breeding purposesPurebred Swine Operations Swine industry is increasingly depending on synthetic lines (maternal or terminal) instead of breeds Individual breeds are not as recognizable and important as in beef industry In excess of 95% of all market hogs in the US are crossbredPurebred Swine Operations Maternal Breeds – White Breeds, known for their mothering ability Yorkshire Landrace Chester WhitePurebred Swine Operations Terminal Breeds – Color Breeds, known for carcass & growth performance Duroc Hampshire Poland China Spotted BerkshireYorkshire Known as the mother breed Erect ears Largest Number of registrationsLandrace Large floppy ears Very prolific / large litter size Second most popular maternal breedChester White Small, drooping ears High conception rates Distant third in breed registration numbersDuroc Solid red with small, drooping ears Exceptionally lean and fast growing Highest breed registration for terminal siresHampshire Black with white belt that encompasses shoulder Exceptionally lean and heavy muscled Second in breed registration for terminal siresPoland China Black with white points (nose, feet and tail) and has drooping ears Originated in the US in OhioSpotted or Spot Black with tan blotches encompassing the body Low registration numbers, mostly “show pig” orientedBerkshire Black with white points, erect ears, dished face Was a breed on the verge of extinction Identified as having the best pork quality Certified Berkshire brand identificationPietrain The Pietrain is a European breed Leanest & heaviest muscled of the terminal breeds Problems associated with pork qualityPork Quality Problems PSS - Porcine Stress Syndrome is also known as the Halothane Gene PSE - Pale, Soft and Exudative While associated with Pietrain, these two pork quality problems can be found in any breed of hogs This is particularly true with extremely heavy muscled, lean hogsSynthetic Swine Operations Companies that market crossbred lines of hogs for breeding purposes Increase Heterosis or Hybrid Vigor Can be Maternal or Terminal lines Or even a combination of maternal and terminal breeds Also called Controlled CrossbreedsSynthetic Swine Operations Popular such firm: PIC - Pig Improvement Company