Swine reproduction

An overview of swine reproduction

1. SWINE REPRODUCTION

2. THE FEMALE Oviducts: 15- 25 cm Uterus: Bicornuate Cornua : 60- 90 cm Cervix: Diameter: 2. 5 cm Length: 15- 20 cm 5 interdigitating pads- Locking mechanism for penis Source of mucus

3. THE FEMALE Vagina: 30. 5- 45 cm IgA pH: Acidic Bladder empties 5 cm from external orifice Clitoris

4. THE FEMALE The female reproductive system Cervix- Interdigitating pads

5. THE MALE Scrotum: Close to body wall 2 ºC lower Testes: Upside down Epididymis: ~58 m when stretched Penis: Fibroelastic S- shaped when not stimulated Corkscrew shaped when stimulated

6. THE MALE B The Penis A- Non erectile/ S- shaped B- Erectile/ Corkscrew shaped

7. THE MALE Preputial divertivulum : Above prepuce Collects urine and sloughed cells Odourous Could contaminate ejaculate Muscle under voluntary control regulates urination and prevention of contamination of semen during ejaculation Diverticulum Opening into prepuce

8. PUBERTY Females: Around 5 months Breeding age- 6 months (Preferably those with 14 teats) Males: Around 5 ½ months Breeding age: 18 months

9. THE OESTROUS CYCLE Polyoestrus 18- 24 days (~21 days) Oestrus period: Gilts: 1.5- 2 days Sows: ≥ 2- 3 days Follicular phase: ~5 days Luteal phase: ~16 days Ovulation: Mid- late oestrum ~15- 24 ova over 1- 4 hours Ovulation rate increases over 1 st 4 cycles

10. SIGNS OF HEAT Behavioral signs: Fence walking Vocalizing Kyphosis Mounting Standing heat Physical signs: Vulva- Swells and reddens Vaginal discharge Standing heat: Rub her flanks, scratch her back and apply pressure on her loins. A positive response is when she stands ” locked- up” . Her ears may additionally perk and her tail may switch to expose the vulva.

11. SIGNS OF HEAT Swollen and red vulva of gilt Red interior of vulva of sow Clear, sticky mucus “Thumb checking”

12. SIGNS OF HEAT Standing heat

13. SIGNS OF HEAT Nose- to- nose exposure to a boar enhances breeding success Commercial aerosol spray that mimics boar odor

14. BREEDING Pen mating Hand mating AI Pen Mating: Boar- to- sow → 1: 15 to 1: 25 (Average → 1: 17 or 1: 18)

15. BREEDING 2. Hand Mating: Female is mated 2- 3 times (1 st mating on Day. 1 of standing heat, subsequent matings at 24 hour intervals) Using different boars may increase the litter size Boar ≤ 2 matings / day

16. BREEDING 3. AI: Gilts: 1 st insemination: 8- 12 hours after standing heat onset 2 nd insemination: 12- 16 hours later Sows: 1 st insemination: 24 hours after standing heat onset 2 nd insemination : 18- 24 hours later Single sire semen → Breeding or show animals Pooled semen → Market pigs CHARACTERISITC EJACULATE EXTENDED SEMEN Volume (ml) 100- 500 ≥ 70 Concentration (10 6 / ml) 100- 200 25- 65

17. BREEDING Spiral catheter Position of catheter in cervix Administration of semen

18. PREGNANCY Ova: S urvive for 8 - 12 hours Reach ampulla in 30 minutes - 1 hour Sperms: Deposited in cervico - uterine junction Ability to fertilize decreases after 24 hours Most reach ova in 3- 6 hours. Number ↑ for up to 12 hours.

19. PREGNANCY DAY OF GESTATION EVENT Day. 1 (2- 6 hours) Fertilization Day. 2 - 2 ½ Embryos enter uterus Day. 10 - 14 Maternal recognition Intrauterine migration Day. 13 - 40 Implantation Day. 35 Skeletal mineralization Day. 70 - 75 Immunocompetence Gestation length: 114 ± 2 days

20. PREGNANCY Embryonic death after Day. 35 → Expulsion or Retention Embryonic loss- Greatest < Day. 30 To increase colostral antibodies, immunize during last 6 weeks Fertility: 95% Embryonic mortality: 30 - 40% Litter size: 10 - 16

21. PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS Oestrus detection Rectal palpation: Cervix- Tone, tension Uterus- Weight, contents Fremitus

22. PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS Ultrasonography: TYPE OBSERVATIONS FALSE POSITIVE FALSE NEGATIVE A- Mode Fluid accumulation in uterus Bladder Pseudopregnancy Pathological fluid accumulations < Day. 28 > Day. 80 Doppler Uterine a.: 50- 100 bpm Umblical a.: 150- 250 bpm Fetal heart rate: 100- 150 bpm Oestrus Pseudopregnancy Metritis < Day. 29 B- Mode Pockets of fluids Fetal heart activity Skeleton < Day. 21

23. PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS A- Mode Doppler B- Mode

24. PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS Day. 28 Day. 35- 40 Day. 70

25. PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS Radiography Oestrone sulphate concentrations: > 0.5 ng/ ml False positive: In the process of return to oestrus False negative: ≤ 4 piglets Concentration during Day. 70- 80 ⍺ Litter size PGF 2 ⍺ concentrations: < 200 pg / ml

26. PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS Progesterone concentrations: > 5 ng/ ml Vaginal biopsy: 2- 3 layers of stratified squamous epithelium in vaginal wall

27. PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS TECHNIQUE PERIOD OF EFFECTIVITY Oestrus detection Any time Rectal Palpation > Day. 30 Ultrasonography A- Mode Day. 28- 80 Doppler > Day. 29 B- Mode > Day. 21 Radiography > Day. 35 Oestrone sulphate estimation Day. 25- 30, > Day. 80 PGF 2 ⍺ estimation Day. 13- 15 Progesterone estimation Day. 17- 20 Vaginal biopsy Day. 30- 90

28. FARROWING Signs of approaching farrowing: Restlessness Nest building Mammary glands- turgid Mammary secretion: Serous → Milk Blood stained vaginal discharge 1- 2 hours beforehand Small greenish pellets from vagina → piglet in an hour

29. FARROWING Vulva prior to farrowing

30. FARROWING Initiation: ↑ Cortisol → PGF 2 ⍺ release Oxytocin → Uterine contractions Piglets are delivered in 10 – 15 minute intervals (5 – 45 minutes) Fetal membranes expelled in 4 hours Luteolysis Relaxin release → Relaxation of cervix and birth canal

31. FARROWING Diffused placenta

32. FARROWING Any increase in the time interval between piglets increases chances of injury or death in the uterus Cranial and caudal presentation Inj. Oxytocin @ 10 – 30 IU for assistance Dystocia incidence: 1 – 2% Mostly due to uterine inertia Inj. Oxytocin @ 20- 30 IU every 30 minutes, 3 times Inj. Calcium for uterine inertia

33. FARROWING Induction: PGF 2 ⍺ : 72 hours of expected farrowing date Farrowing in mostly 22- 32 hours Slightly premature piglets → Good environment for survival Oxytocin: 15- 24 hours after PGF 2 ⍺ Quickens farrowing but may cause dystocias

34. POST PARTUM Lactational anoestrum ← Suckling reflex 21 days for complete uterine involution Return to heat after weaning in 4 - 7 days Induction of oestrus : S plit weaning Removing all piglets for a few hours for 3 – 4 consequtive days Gonadotropin treatment Weaning age: Primiparous : 14 - 16 days Pluriparous : 9 – 11 days

35. REFERENCES Breeding Management in Pigs- Gary C. Althouse et al. Reproductive Physiology and Anatomy of the Sow- Dr. Wayne Singleton and Dr. Mark Diekman Pregnancy Diagnosis in Sows and Gilts- Gordon King Evaluating Boar Semen Quality- Dr. Kevin J. Rozeboom Pregnancy Diagnosis- A Brief Review- Glen W. Almond www.livestocktrail.illinois.edu/swinerepronet/paperDisplay.cfm?ContentID=6274 www.livestocktrail.illinois.edu/swinerepronet/paperDisplay.cfm?ContentID=6273 www.fao.org/docrep/t0690e/t0690e06.htm https://extension.psu.edu/courses/swine/reproduction/breeding-management/cycles-and-heat-determination www.cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/swine/bio/fem/estr/hm.html www.unipr.it www.porkgateway.org/resource/pregnancy-diagnosis-in-swine/

36. THANK YOU!