Table 1. Characteristics of participating small-scale and niche market pig farms Sows Sow Herd Farm on Genetics1 Type of Market Boar Stud Used Size Project Stolquist Show A 200 16 H x Y Show Pig/ Commercial Pigs Swine Genetics B 40 8 B, D,Y Show Pig/Niche Market International Boar Makin’ Bacon C 90 12 Y x L Commercial Stud Swine Genetics D 55 24 N x L, N x Y Research/Commercial International Swine Genetics E 65 36 D x Y, Y x L Research/Commercial International 1 Genetic abbreviations: B = Berkshire, D = Duroc, H = Hampshire, L = Landrace, N = Newsham, Y = Yorkshire P.G. 600 was stored at approximately 6° C prior to use. Before P.G. 600® Administration. administration, a sterile syringe with a needle were used to transfer approximately 5 mL of the diluent into the vial containing the freeze-dried powder. The vial was then shaken to dissolve the powder into the diluent. The contents of that vial were then transferred back into the vial of the diluent and then gently shaken to mix the combination. At weaning (h 0), sows belonging to TRT2 and TRT3 were given an i.m. injection of 5 mL of P.G. 600 using an 18 gauge, 25.4 mm sterile needle into the muscle of the neck, behind the ear at weaning (h 0). Sows in TRT3 and TRT4 were observed for signs of behavioral estrus Estrus Detection. beginning d 3 post-weaning using once-daily mature boar exposure. On one farm, sows were placed in a pen with the boar for approximately 20 min allowing full body contact. For the remaining four farms, the boar was allowed to walk the alleyways or around gestation stalls
Table 1. Characteristics of participating small-scale and niche market pig farms Farm Sow Herd Size Sows on Project Genetics1 Type of Market Boar Stud Used A 200 16 H x Y Show Pig/ Commercial Stolquist Show Pigs B 40 8 B, D,Y Show Pig/Niche Market Swine Genetics International C 90 12 Y x L Commercial Makin’ Bacon Boar Stud D 55 24 N x L, N x Y Research/Commercial Swine Genetics International E 65 36 D x Y, Y x L Research/Commercial Swine Genetics International 1 Genetic abbreviations: B = Berkshire, D = Duroc, H = Hampshire, L = Landrace, N = Newsham, Y = Yorkshire P.G. 600® Administration. P.G. 600 was stored at approximately 6° C prior to use. Before administration, a sterile syringe with a needle were used to transfer approximately 5 mL of the diluent into the vial containing the freeze-dried powder. The vial was then shaken to dissolve the powder into the diluent. The contents of that vial were then transferred back into the vial of the diluent and then gently shaken to mix the combination. At weaning (h 0), sows belonging to TRT2 and TRT3 were given an i.m. injection of 5 mL of P.G. 600 using an 18 gauge, 25.4 mm sterile needle into the muscle of the neck, behind the ear at weaning (h 0). Estrus Detection. Sows in TRT3 and TRT4 were observed for signs of behavioral estrus beginning d 3 post-weaning using once-daily mature boar exposure. On one farm, sows were placed in a pen with the boar for approximately 20 min allowing full body contact. For the remaining four farms, the boar was allowed to walk the alleyways or around gestation stalls