Day 7: Three Months, Three Weeks, Three Days

First and foremost: Special shout out to K. Blouch's brother who celebrated his 1-year anniversary of receiving a pig aortic valve during his heart surgery on February 28, 2012!

Aortic (heart) valve from a pig

Happy 1 week!  That's right!  It has been just over 1 week since 14 pink piglets emerged from Peaches' womb.  Hard to believe, isn't it?  Last week at this time, hundreds of you were streaming the video feed live from your computers and mobile devices as the Maternity Ward at CVHS was full of activity.

But, that raises a question... Where exactly do piglets come from?

Here is the quick version - In a nutshell!

Let's have a talk about 'The Birds and The Bees' in swine terminology.  It all starts with a gilt, or in laymen's terms, an immature female pig.  When she 'becomes of age' and goes through piggy puberty, her body is ready to produce viable eggs during estrus to begin mating and reproducing.  This typically happens for the first time between 6-7 months (150-200 days) of age.  Pigs will often give birth to their first litter when they are 1-year old.  Once they give birth, they are then considered to be a sow and no longer a gilt.

Most pigs are bred through artificial insemination, meaning the female was bred artificially by a human who uses semen collected from a boar.  Why is this done?  Selection of the best genetics to improve the offspring born, and to improve the safety on a farm - boars can be very dangerous!  

Uterine diagram of a sow showing the insertion of a spirette (or inseminating tube).

This picture shows a side-view of the spirette breeding the sow artificially.  

This picture shows a person using the spirette to artificially breed a sow that is in estrus and ready to receive. 

After the female pig is bred it takes 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days for her gestation period complete before she gives birth (farrows) 114 days later.  Twenty-one days after she gives birth, she will come into heat once again and is ready to re-breed for her next litter.  On average, a female pig can give birth to 2.6 litters per years.  That's almost 36 piglets a year, if she has 12 per litter!

Fun Fact: Unlike most species of livestock and even humans, boar semen cannot be preserved in liquid nitrogen.  For instance, semen from cattle can be collected from a bull and preserved in liquid nitrogen for several weeks.  Once a cow or heifer is ready to breed, the semen is simply thawed in a warm water bath and a person artificially inseminates the female.

Pigs on the other hand have very fragile sperm and semen.  It cannot be frozen in liquid nitrogen and thawed for later use.  Instead, once the semen is collected, it is mixed with stabilizers and extenders (nutrients to feed the sperm) and then placed in a temperature controlled chamber.  This chamber mimics the body temperature of a boar.  The semen placed in the chamber will remain viable (or alive) for a period of about three (3) days.  Then the sperm typically die and the semen become obsolete.  

*Special Note about the Live Streaming Video*

Starting on Monday, March 4 there will be no video streaming available Monday-Friday from 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM.  Live video feed will be available from 3:30 PM till 7:00 AM daily and all-day on Saturday and Sunday.  

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause - especially for those of you who use it for teaching and instructional purposes.  

However, we encourage you to reference this blog and short video clips in your teaching.

Day 6: Escape Artists, Playtime, and Benefits from Pigs

We all knew it was just a matter of time - that's right, the piglets have finally figured out how to walk through gate panels!  Today, they spent time exploring the greenhouse and running in and out from under the tables - it was HILARIOUS to say the least!

Ha! Caught in the middle of the act!

Many visitors came to see the little guys and gals today.  It was great because the piglets were overly rambunctious!  Aside from exploring the greenhouse, they investigated and interacted with the students as well.  Pigs, like most animals, are very curious about other creatures - including humans.  The piglets had a lot of fun using Sean as their jungle gym and play toy.

Sean is the 'Pig-Whisperer' and Austin is the goober in the background!

The boys are all tuckered out!  Nap time!

Check out this YouTube Video Clip of the Playful Piglets

Benefits of Pigs to Humans: From Food to Medicine!

Did you know? Pigs are very similar to humans in terms of physical features and compatibility... It's true!  From heart transplants, to insulin, and even thyroid hormones, pigs are extremely helpful in advancing the quality of life for humans!

Organ Transplants 

For years, researches have devised several tests to try and transplant the organs of animals into the body of a human - especially with heart transplants.  This is known as xenotransplantation.  While no fully successful transplants have happened, researchers and doctors are getting ever so close with newer technologies and methods.  Read more in this article: Animal Transplants coming 'soon'

Insulin

Diabetes is a major battle for many Americans.  To combat the imbalance of blood sugar, some individuals with diabetes need to take injections of insulin.  But, where does most insulin originate?  The history of insulin is long.  Since it's discovery in 1921, it has been one of the most studied molecules in history.  Essentially, the pancreas of an organism regulates blood glucose (sugar) levels through using insulin as a balance.  Insulin was the first human protein to be engineered through biotechnology.  Most animal based insulin hormones given to humans originates from cattle or pigs.  Pig insulin is ALMOST identical to that of humans - there is only one (1) amino acid that is different!

Thyroid Hormone

People who suffer from hypothyroidism are often given desiccated thyroid extract, which originates from the dried and powdered thyroid glands of cattle or pigs, but mostly pigs.  The earliest treatment was documented in 1891 and by 1934 it became a commercial treatment that has not shown any form of instability.    

So there you have it.  From sausage and bacon to xenotransplanation and insulin, pigs and humans have a harmonious relationship.  Stay tuned for more updates about Peaches and her piglets.  Don't forget to keep up-to-date at the Cumberland Valley FFA Facebook Page, Twitter, and Live Stream!  

Day 5: Time for a Little Dental Work and Housing

Not to make myself sound old, but boy do they sure do grow up fast!  It is hard to believe that Peaches' piglets are already 5 days old.  So many great things have happened since they arrived last Thursday.  The live video stream has over 5,000 hits - THAT'S PHENOMENAL!  It is so exciting to share this great learning experience with the world!  Literally!

So big!

Yesterday we docked tails to prevent tail biting and today we clipped the needle teeth (AKA - Wolf Teeth).  This hands-on, real-world learning approach is really giving the students a truly remarkable experience!  Who would have thought that students in a comprehensive high school, like Cumberland Valley, would have the opportunity to practice veterinary procedures at the age of 16 and 17???

Students prepare to clip needle teeth

Anyway - down to business about what took place in class today.  After doing our daily piglet observation, the CASE Animal Science II students (also known as Vet & BioMed Research) had the chance to nip the needle teeth of the piglets.  

Why?  For the protection of Peaches', her teats, and for the future health of the piglets.  

How does it protect Peaches?

Answer: When piglets are nursing, they tend to become competitive over the mother's teats.  If two become engaged in a conflict, it could result in one biting Peaches' teat and causing injury - Needle teeth are VERY sharp!  If the teats become infected and uncomfortable, she may develop issues within her mammary system or worse yet, she might not allow the piglets to nurse - which could result in malnutrition and starvation.

Tusks (Needle Teeth) that have not been removed shortly after birth.

How does it help the piglets later in life?

Answer: Needle Teeth or Wolf Teeth are what develop into tusks.  Tusks can pose a threat of injury to other pigs and humans when they mature into adulthood.  Tusks can also grown uncontrollably and cause issues with eating food and living life normally.

If you look closely, you can see one of the needle teeth near my right thumb

This process is a VERY quick and seemingly painless procedure.  Using a pair of cutting tools, all 8 needle teeth are quickly removed.  Since the piglets are so young, the nerve endings have not completely developed in the teeth - meaning, the discomfort level is EXTREMELY minimal and essentially blood-free.  Students use extreme care when restraining the piglets and are cautious not to accidentally nip the gum line or tongue of the piglets.  Once the teeth have been removed, the piglets quickly return to Peaches' and resume nursing as if nothing has ever happened.  The entire process takes less than 30 seconds per piglet!  

If you take a close look, the yellow tooth is a small portion of Peaches' needle teeth from when her's were nipped as a piglet.  I think she needs to brush them!

Okay - enough about dental work.  What about the housing situation?

Let us compare Peaches' accommodations at Cumberland Valley Ag Sciences versus a Commercial Swine Operation.

Cumberland Valley Ag Sciences:

*Peaches' and her piglets have a 16' by 8' (128 sq. ft) well-bedded maternity ward

*Room temperature: consistent 70 degrees Fahrenheit 

*Ventilation: consistent air movement

*Lighting: 24/7 light availability

*Feed: Self Feeder with food readily available

*Water: Fresh water daily

Peaches' Bungalow! 

Commercial Swine Operation:

 

*Farrowing unit requirements: 5' by 6' (30 sq. feet) clean, well cared for, slatted floors... slatted floors allow feces and urine to pass through into a manure storage pit below the barn floor

*Room temperature: consistent 65-70 degree Fahrenheit

*Ventilation: well-ventilated barns with fans to remove odors and unclean air, while providing fresh, clean air in return

*Lighting: 24/7 light availability

*Feed: automated feeders with set amounts to provide proper nutriton

*Water: consistent supply of fresh, cool water via automatic waterers 

Farrowing Unit in a Commercial Swine Operations (see the automatic feeders, heat lamps for piglets, automatic waterers, etc...)  

*Note: Sows do not spend their life in these units.  They are removed once the litter has been weaned.

In both scenarios, the pigs are treated with the utmost respect and care using the best animal husbandry skills.  Any good agriculturalist understands that a happy animal provides a bountiful harvest.  Farmers are stewards of the land and of the animals - they take every step possible to ensure the fruits of their labor are quality from Farm to Fork!

Besides, with labor, neither knowledge nor wisdom can accomplish much!

Thanks for reading!  Don't forget to 'Like' us on Facebook, 'Follow' us on Twitter, and Live Stream the 24/7 'pig' cam!

Day 4: Tail Docking 101

Today, in CASE Animal Science, students became the veterinarian for the day.  When a piglet is born, there are many steps that must be taken to ensure they start their journey in life as happy and healthy animals.  Agriculturalists who raise pigs understand that it is imperative to keep animals happy, safe, and well-cared for in order to raise the highest quality product.  Incorporating the hands-on, real-life, pig experience enhances the relevancy and rigor that is already prevalent through the CASE Curriculum at Cumberland Valley High School.

Those critical steps include, but are not limited to:

1. Umbilical Cord Care
2. Iron Supplement Injections
3. Tail Docking
4. Needle Teeth (Wolf Teeth) Nipping
5. Ear Notching
6. Castration (for the males)

Peaches and two of her piglets

Recapping events from this weekend: All 14 piglets were given a 0.5 mL (cc) injection of iron on Saturday, Feb. 23.  Why?  Well, when piglets are born they are typically anemic.  To help combat anemia, piglets are given an intramuscular injection of iron to boost the amount in their body.  On Saturday evening, one of the male piglets died due to suspected internal bleeding from being stepped on by Peaches. 

In class today, we did a brief necropsy of the dead piglet.  Students did a visual inspection of the piglet's external appearance.  Indications of internal bleeding were evident via skin coloration and bruising.

  

Bruising in the groin area

Bruising on the lower back - suspected impact point

After inspecting the deceased piglet, we went to the Maternity Ward to dock the tails of the remaining 13 piglets.  

Why do pork producers dock tails?

Tail docking is done to prevent issues later in a pig's life.  Essentially, it is done to improve the welfare and quality of life by preventing tail biting.  Tail biting may lead to infections of the spine, pain, and even condemnation of the carcass when an animal is harvested for human consumption.  

Today's procedure was simple and the students were engaged in this common veterinary practice.  

Steps our classroom procedure were was follows:

1. Sanitize the SHARP scissors with rubbing alcohol
2. Prepare the tail with an iodine solution
3. Snip 1 1/2 inches off the tip of the tail
4. Cleanse the wound with iodine solution
5. Sanitize the SHARP scissors and prepare for the next piglet

This was a relatively quick process and bleeding is minimal.  The procedure takes roughly 30 seconds per piglet - maximum.  As with all creatures - especially mammals - it is very important to proceed with any 'traumatic' veterinary practice during the first few days of life to minimize pain and discomfort. 

Tomorrow, we will clip the needle teeth in the CASE Animal Science II course.

Monday Funday!

Ever hear of 'Pig Chase?'   Click the video below to learn more!

Check out this Huffington Post article:  

'Pig Chase': A Pig And Human Game App Intended to Improve Pig Farming Conditions

More photos have been added to the CV FFA Facebook Page and don't forget about the 24/7 Live Stream!

Day 3: Full of Spunk and Energy!

Believe it or not, piglets grow incredibly fast!

Did you know?  On average, a pig will gain 2 lbs per day after the first week or so of life until they reach maturity.  Amazing!  

So what does that mean for Peaches' piglets?  Well, by the time Shippensburg Fair comes - the last week of July - those little guys and gals will weigh from 250 - 280 lbs!  That's a whole lot of ham and bacon!  Yes - that's right - I said it.  Whether you are a carnivore, omnivore, or herbivore, these pigs were born for a purpose.  To become food for humans.  The pork chop you had at dinner last night or the bacon you had with your eggs this morning was not grown on a styrofoam tray at Giant, Wegman's or any other grocery store.  It was raised and processed through humane practices and quality animal husbandry skills on an American farm.

The FFA members at Cumberland Valley will have the opportunity to purchase the piglets when they reach their weaning weight.  At that point, the piglets will be separated from Peaches and will grow to market weight either at the school or local farms.  FFA members learn key animal husbandry skills and gain an incredible amount of responsibility by caring for their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects through the FFA.  Essentially, their learning will extend beyond the classroom into a real-world, practical application.  Hands-on learning at its finest!

Photo by Jill Uhler

On Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - the piglets (which will then be market weight) will be sold at the Robert L. Finkenbinder FFA Market Animal Sale.  Students will truly get to experience the joy of raising an animal from Farm to Fork!  Yes, this may seem morbid as you look at the cute pictures - but, it's the reality of life.  

Did you know?  On average, every American consumes roughly twelve (12) whole pigs during their lifetime by eating pork products like ham, bacon, hotdogs, etc...  That's over 3,000 lbs of pork!  Oink, Oink!

Day 2: The Name of the Game: Reality Sets In

After a busy Friday at the ImAGinarium and Petting Zoo, everyone was beat!  People and animals alike.

Faculty and Staff enjoyed a PA Preferred Appreciation Luncheon in honor of National FFA Week where we had a 'Piglet Shower' celebrating the birth of our newest CV eaglets.

Pigs in a Mud Chocolate Cake made by Jane Jackson

PA Preferred sheet cake made by Nancy Konhaus Griffie

Pig cookies idea by Kara Boehne, CVHS Media Specialist and Asst. FFA Advisor

However, we do have some sad news to share.  The first three days of any piglets life are the most critical.  Several things could happen.  Malnutrition, anemia issues, being laid on or stepped on by the mother, etc... Most of which would result in death.  That said, being born on Thursday evening means the most fragile time period would be over by Monday, Feb. 25.  

This afternoon, we lost one of the little boys (boars).  After an afternoon of struggling to hang on, his brief time in the world came to an end.  His body had some bruises on it (one of his lower back and a larger patch on his abdomen).  Although this is not an official veterinary diagnosis, one would assume that Peaches accidentally stepped on him, which resulted in internal bleeding - ultimately leading to his death.  So, that leads us to another topic - that many people often question and do not fully understand why they exist: Gestation and Farrowing Crates.

Purpose: Farrowing crates have been designed to reduce the number of pigs which are accidentally laid or stepped on by the sow.

Why didn't we use one at CVHS?: Simple answer - too many people.  Too many questions.  

Needless to say - we now have 7 girls (gilts) and 6 boys (boars).  All healthy, nursing, and full of energy!  One more day and we should be in the clear!  Keep viewing their progress through the live streaming webcam.  

  

Day 1: Peaches and Crew: Their Big Debut!

As one could expect, having a pig with piglets in a high school full of 2,600 plus students, faculty, and staff draws A LOT of attention.  The morning after they were born, Peaches and her piglets were the 'Must See' event at Cumberland Valley High School.  Swarms of people came to the Ag Suite to visit our newest members of the CV community.

Pictures of Peaches and her litter are viewable on the Cumberland Valley FFA Facebook Page.  'Like' us to see them!

Students in the Ag Science program and FFA educated their peers and teachers about the piglets and Peaches.  Many questions ranged from 'How much do they weigh?' to 'Why are they white and Peaches is black?' Certainly, there were many more questions.  Most can be answered by reading through a Birth to Weaning fact sheet. However, the answer to the two questions mentioned above are: 3-4 lbs AND Peaches is a Berkshire who was bred to a Yorkshire (pictured below) - the genetics of the father are dominant to that of Peaches.  

Peaches

Yorkshire Boar

Visitors to the Maternity Ward, in the Ag Suite, at the ImAGinarium and Petting Zoo during National FFA Week (Friday, Feb. 22, 2013) are pictured above.

Deliver Day: Peaches Pops

Wow - after many weeks of anticipation, the day finally arrived!  Peaches, a Berkshire female pig, gave birth to her litter on Thursday, February 21, 2013.  It was an exciting event!   Many students, faculty, and parents enjoyed watching the birth in-person while nearly 250 people streamed a live view via the internet.  The viewing audience spanned from the East Coast of the U.S. to the West Coast.  We even had viewers across the pond in England!

Just before 7:00 PM, after the conclusion of our FFA Greenhand Ceremony during National FFA Week, Peaches gave birth to her first piglet.  By 9:00 PM, the last piglet, a boy (boar) was born.  This was Peaches' second litter.  All were healthy, spunky, and full of life!

February 16 - 23 was a celebratory week for over 557,000 youth in grades 7-12 across the nation in honor of National FFA Week. For those who may not be familiar with the youth leadership organization, the FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Agricultural Science Education at Cumberland Valley prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber and natural resources systems.  Through agricultural science education, students are provided opportunities for leadership development, personal growth and career success. Agricultural science education instruction is delivered through three major components: Classroom & Laboratory Instruction, Supervised Agricultural Experience, and FFA – which is the youth leadership development organization.