ICVA Swine Production Medicine 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which pathogen is the primary cause of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)?
- Arterivirus (Correct answer)
- Circovirus type 2
- Influenza A virus
- Pseudorabies virus
Correct answer: Arterivirus
PRRS is caused by an arterivirus (PRRSV) affecting reproductive performance in sows and respiratory disease in growing pigs.
Question 2: What is the recommended gilt development program age for first breeding in commercial swine operations?
- 150–160 days
- 175–210 days (Correct answer)
- 220–240 days
- 260–280 days
Correct answer: 175–210 days
Gilts are typically bred for the first time at 175–210 days of age, after adequate exposure to boar stimulation and body weight targets are met.
Question 3: Which nutritional deficiency most commonly causes posterior paresis ('downer sow syndrome') in lactating sows?
- Vitamin E deficiency
- Selenium deficiency
- Calcium and phosphorus imbalance (Correct answer)
- Biotin deficiency
Correct answer: Calcium and phosphorus imbalance
Calcium and phosphorus imbalances leading to hypocalcemia are the most common nutritional cause of posterior paresis in high-producing lactating sows.
Question 4: In swine, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae primarily affects which organ system?
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Respiratory tract (Correct answer)
- Urinary tract
- Central nervous system
Correct answer: Respiratory tract
A. pleuropneumoniae causes fibrinous, hemorrhagic, necrotizing pleuropneumonia in swine, primarily affecting the respiratory tract.
Question 5: What does the term 'wean-to-service interval' (WSI) measure in swine reproductive management?
- Days from breeding to farrowing
- Days from weaning sows to their next successful mating (Correct answer)
- Days between consecutive farrowings
- Days sows spend in gestation facilities
Correct answer: Days from weaning sows to their next successful mating
WSI measures the number of days from piglet weaning to the next successful mating of the sow, with a target of 4–7 days.
Question 6: Which mycotoxin most commonly causes hyperestrogenism, vulvovaginitis, and reproductive failure in swine?
- Aflatoxin B1
- Deoxynivalenol (DON)
- Zearalenone (Correct answer)
- Fumonisin B1
Correct answer: Zearalenone
Zearalenone mimics estrogen and causes hyperestrogenism, resulting in vulvovaginitis in prepubertal gilts and reproductive failure in breeding females.
Question 7: What is the standard gestation length in swine, often remembered by the '3-3-3' rule?
- 111 days
- 114 days (Correct answer)
- 117 days
- 120 days
Correct answer: 114 days
Swine gestation averages 114 days, remembered as 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days.
ICVA Swine Production Medicine 2
Which pathogen is the primary cause of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)?