Laboratory Pigs/Porcine/Swine

About Laboratory Pigs/Porcine/Swine

As a biomedical research model, swine have physiological similarities to man. Crossbred strains, developed mostly as food animals, grow fast and develop into large animals. The size and weight of these animals often makes it difficult to handle and house them for laboratory purposes. In response to this drawback, smaller animals -- miniature pigs -- have been developed. The adult mini-pig weighs approximately 70 kilograms, about the size of an average person.

The body size, skeletal size, skin, teeth, gastrointestinal tract, heart position and blood supply are strikingly similar in humans and miniature pigs. Nutrient requirements and dietary ingredients have many parallels. These animals have a long life span, making them appropriate for studies of cardiovascular disease, gerontology and toxicology. Animals born by cesarean section can be used for germ-free or gnotobiotic studies. Other important applications include studies on reproductive physiology, endocrinology, dental research, effects of radiation and many others. Hairless strains have been developed for use in skin sensitivity tests.

The miniature swine can be handled under laboratory conditions, in appropriate cages and climate controlled facilities.

Custom Diets

Many custom diets have been formulated for laboratory pigs; we can repeat or modify any existing diet or create new formulas for your specific research requirements.

A few examples of custom pig/porcine/swine diets –

Description	Grain-Based = G or Purified = P	TestDiet^® Formula # or Product #
Modified Mini-Pig Grower LabDiet 5081 with 2% Cholesterol; 20% Lard; 1.5% Sodium Cholate	G	583V
Modified Mini-Pig Grower LabDiet 5081 with 4% Cholesterol; 20% Lard; 1.5% Sodium Cholate	G	583U
Low-Residue Porcine Surgery Mix	G	594K
Ossabaw High Fat & High Fructose Diet	G	5B4L

Care, Feeding, & Physiology

Care and Feeding
Experimental Conditions	Space dimensions vary with each experiment according to animal size and management program. Refer to NRC guidelines.*
Feeding Recommendations	Daily Feed Usage			Water Requirement	Begin Dry Food Consumption
	Approx. 2-3% of body weight, but varies with phase of life cycle (see specific product for other details).			Ad libitum	12-16 days
Environmental Data	Room Temp.	Humidity	Light	Litter Material
	Ambient conditions 10-25 °C	45-55%	8-14 hrs/day	As needed, straw, hay, shavings ground cobs, paper beddings. Avoid shredded newspapers.

Biological Values
Blood Chemical Composition	Water	Calcium	Sodium	Chloride	Phosphorus	Potassium
	79.1 gm/100ml	8-12 mg/100ml	138-150 mEq/L	100-105 mEq/L	5-9 mEq/L	5-7 mEq/L
Values are for plasma, except where noted	Magnesium	Cholesterol	Glucose	Serum Protein	Albumin	Globulin
	1-3 mg/100ml	130-160 mg/100ml	65-120 mg/100ml	5-8 mg/100ml	3-4.5 gm/100ml	1.5-3.5 gm/100ml
Vital Data	Temp- erature	Breathing Rate	Heart Beat	Blood Pressure	Heat
	39 °C	30 /minute	145-175 /minute	130-145/105-110	1.01 kcal/min
Hematological Values	Whole Blood Volume (T-1824 dye)	RBC Diameter
	67 mg/kg body weight	6.0 microns
	Blood pH	RBC	Hematocrit	Platelets	Hb
	7.4	6-8 10^6/mm^3	39-46 gm/100ml	250-500 10^3/mm^3	11.5-15.5 gm/100ml
Total and Differential White Blood Cell Counts	Leucocytes	Neutros	Eosinos	Basos	Lymphos	Monos
	14-18 10^3/mm^3	22-40 %	0-6 %	0-2 %	50-70 %	0-5 %

Life Cycle Information
	Adult Weight Male/ Female	Weight at Birth	Breeding Age Male	Breeding Age Female	Estrus Cycle	Heat Period
	70 kg/70kg 200kg/200kg	700 gm 1361 gm	6-7 months 7-8 months	6-7 months 7-8 months	21 (18-24) days 21 (19-24) days	2-3 days 2-3 days
	Gestation	Weaning Age	Offspring	Rebreed After Parturition	Breeding Life Male/Female
	114 days 114 days	56 days 28 days	4-8 9-11	First or subsequent estrus cycle	Productive breeding life is about 3 years. Crossbred strains will breed longer
	Mating Data: 1/20 depending upon breeding management program

*	Refer to the "Guide for the Care and use of Laboratory Animals" - NIH Publication No. 85-23, Revised 1985.
	Prepared by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20418
**	Biological Values are variable with no definitive data to declare differences among swine breeds. These values are presented as guidelines and subject to revision as information accumulates.
	Reference sources: Diseases of Swine, A. D. Leman, et. al., Iowa State University Press (1986). Miniature Swine, Charles River Digest 22, #3 (1983). D. E. Reese, et al., Am.J.Vet.Res. 45, 978 (1984). Blood and other Body Fluids, FASEB, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814.