Sunday we brought home two new pigs fennel and fern. This morning when I went down to feed the pigs fennel was Laying along the fence breathing hard and her rear leg was twitching as was her shoulder muscle. She turned red and blotchy and then died within 10 min.
I had asked if she carried the stress gene and her previouse owner had been unsure. I was aware when I purchased her that it was a possibility as it is with most of the show bred pigs. I had planned to have her tested before breeding her.
I suspect that line breeding (inbreeding) increases the chance of the gene(PSS or porcine stress syndrome ) presenting itself. While i have purchased pigs that have been line bred I do not continue the practice. I am curiouse if you can "breed it out" while maintaining the quality of the build that the show and 4H crowd are wanting. While I do not know for sure what brought on her death I assume it was the stress of being introduced to a larger pig herd. Her and tulip had been having small squrmishes over who would be lead sow.
I was going to move fern to a smaller pen by herself but she was fine eying and drinking so I left her in the pen with the sows and feeders.
It is very sad to have lost fennel I was looking forward to getting to know her and seeing how awesome her piglets would turn out.
I had asked if she carried the stress gene and her previouse owner had been unsure. I was aware when I purchased her that it was a possibility as it is with most of the show bred pigs. I had planned to have her tested before breeding her.
I suspect that line breeding (inbreeding) increases the chance of the gene(PSS or porcine stress syndrome ) presenting itself. While i have purchased pigs that have been line bred I do not continue the practice. I am curiouse if you can "breed it out" while maintaining the quality of the build that the show and 4H crowd are wanting. While I do not know for sure what brought on her death I assume it was the stress of being introduced to a larger pig herd. Her and tulip had been having small squrmishes over who would be lead sow.
I was going to move fern to a smaller pen by herself but she was fine eying and drinking so I left her in the pen with the sows and feeders.
It is very sad to have lost fennel I was looking forward to getting to know her and seeing how awesome her piglets would turn out.