Anatomy & Physiology of the Pig ANSC 4401 Swine Production

Why understand pig A&P? It will open new areas of application of pig biology to benefit humans It helps you have a conversation with other pig people, veterinarians and scientists It will help you manage pigs in meaningful ways on farms Recognize disease states more easily Obtain blood or other tissue samples

Anatomy & Physiology Outline Anatomical terms Major bones Uses for pigs other than for eating Some terminology Blood collection Necropsy

Anatomical terms

Major bones of the pig

Uses of pigs other than for eating Organ donors As a source of biological materials, ex. Insulin or heparin As a model for biomedical research As an organ donor to humans For entertainment As pets As truffle-finders (they are smell experts)

Xenotransplantation & Cloning New pig cloning research promising yet risky, studies indicate August 17, 2000 Web posted at: 12:57 PM EDT (1657 GMT) WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two groups of researchers publishing work in rival scientific journals report similar successes in cloning pigs -- a difficult process that may lead to ways to grow organs in the animals destined for human transplantation. "The goal here is to reduce the shortage of organs for transplantation and prevent any more needless deaths that arise because people simply don't receive the organ they need," said Dr. Anthony Perry of New York's Rockefeller University.

Some Terms Serum (fluid minus all cells and clotting factors) Plasma (fluid including soluble clotting factors) Red blood cells (obtained only from plasma) White blood cells (obtained only from plasma)

Composition of Newborn Pigs

Blood Collection From Pigs Ear veins Jugular vein Facial vein Tail vein Orbital Sinus

Points to sample from or inject into the venous system of pigs

Common Bleeding Ports External Jugular Vein Auricular (ear) vein Facial Vein Orbital venous sinus

Bleeding Trough for Young Pigs

Bleeding tools: Vacutainer

Bleeding sows

Blood Collection Tubes

Maximum safe blood draw Age & weight Total blood volume, mL Maximum draw, mL Newborn, 3 lb11010 Nursery pig, 35 lb 1, Sow, 440 lb16,0001,600

Selected normal blood values MeasureValue Blood volume8 % WBC count10-12 thousand/μL Neutrophils45 % Lymphocytes50 % Gamma globulin25-30 mg/mL

Necropsy – Why? To improve the herd health To contribute to the herd health program To identify causes of illness or death so that Effective treatments can be applied Preventative measures can be implemented

Necropsy – What to look for Skin condition Swollen joints Wounds or abscesses Intestinal condition (fluid-filled, bloody, gas, etc) Lung condition (hemorrhage, non-functional tissues, edema, etc.) Liver condition (look for milk spots; indication of a parasitic infection) Condition of other organs (kidneys, spleen, heart) Snout condition (condition of the turbinates)

Necropsy – “normal”

Necropsy -- Tools Scalpel Probes (spatula or equivalent) Saw (hack saw or equivalent) Water Mechanism to dispose of parts (plastic bags)

The End