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Overview

The porcine animal model is one of the popular non-rodent models used in research. As opposed to the traditional animal models such as mice and rats, pigs as an animal model provide the advantage of representing the complexity of physiology associated with human diseases. Pigs share a lot of similarities with the human anatomy and genetics, making them a suitable model for research. Further, the similarities allow a greater translatability potential of research results into human clinical applications. Additionally, their large size makes surgical and other invasive procedures significantly easier in comparison to rodents and fishes.

Pigs Behaviors and Characteristics

Scientific Classification

Scientific Name:

Sus Scrofa Scrofa

Family Name:

Suidae

Habitat:

Can survive in any productive habitat (most cases)

Weight:

Anywhere from 10 kg to 300 kg or more

Diet:

Omnivores

Reproduction

Sexual Maturity:

3 to 12 months (females)

Gestation Period:

112 to 120 days

Litter size:

6 to 14 piglets

Nesting:

During the last 24 hours before the onset of farrowing; the sows begin nest building by rooting the ground to create a depression and building the nest using twigs; grasses; and leaves.

Social Behavior

Herding:

Pigs are very social animals and are often seen in sounders; which typically consist of two or more females and their young ones. Males can often be seen living solitary or in bachelor groups

Hierarchy:

Dominance hierarchy can form as early as 1 week of age (confined pigs). Piglets develop teat order which once formed remains stable for the same piglet group.

Communication:

Pigs communicate using vocalization. Rooting is also considered a form of communication. Piglets begin socialization approximately at 5 weeks of age with conspecifics and by 14 weeks of age with other species

Senses

· Pigs have relatively poor vision. They have a panoramic vision of approximately 310° and binocular vision of 35° to 50°.

· Pigs have a highly developed olfactory sense. Sows can detect lower concentrations of smell and pheromones better than boars.

· Pigs have a well-developed hearing sense.

· Pigs lack in sweat glands. Thus, they indulge in wallowing to thermoregulate their body temperatures.

Other behaviors & characteristics

· Pigs are cognitively complex animals. They can indulge in destructive behaviors if bored.

· Pigs have a strong fear of being picked up. However, with regular interactions, they are known to be amenable.

History

Pigs were primarily used for food, though, pig-derived products such as their hides, bones, and bristles were also used for building tools and other products. The domestication of pigs is believed to have taken place around 8500 BC in the Near East. The pigs were introduced into Europe by agriculturalist migrating into northwestern Europe between 5500 and 4200 cal BC. (Caliebe, Nebel, Makarewicz, Krawczak, & Krause-Kyora, 2017Giuffra et al., 2000Krause-Kyora et al., 2013)

Interest in pig selection and breeding was mainly for improving their economic value as a food source. By the mid-20th century, pigs began to be considered as an alternative animal model in biomedical research. Initially, domestic farm breeds of pigs were used in research. However, their large size meant extensive husbandry and maintenance requirements leading to more expenses as opposed to the traditional animal models such as rodents. By the late 1940s, the development of minipig breeds was underway. These breeds were developed to be smaller sized, docile and easy to manage. Further, the crossbreeding of minipigs also involved the development of breeds with specific characteristics for biomedical research (Larzul, 2013).

By the early 1980s, pigs gained momentum as a popular animal model, especially as a preclinical model. Their physiologic, anatomic, and pathologic similarities to humans make them an excellent model for human diseases, disorders, and conditions. Additionally, the porcine genome project also facilitated its use as an animal model (Abbott, 2012).

Breeds

Pigs are natives of the Eurasian and African continents. Pigs belong to the Suidae family and fall under the Sus genus. The origins of the domestic pig can be traced to the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa). In the United States, popular domestic farm breeds for research include Duroc, Yorkshire, Landrace, and crossbreeds while miniature breeds include Yucatan mini and micro, Hanford, Sinclair, and Göttingen.

Domestic Farm Breeds

Duroc Pig
The Duroc pig is one of the older domestic breeds available in the United States. The pigs were bred in New York and New Jersey in 1812 as the early Red Hogs. Modern Durocs are resultant of a cross between the Jersey Red and New York’s older Duroc. The Duroc pigs are medium-sized breed with a moderately long body and a slightly-dished face with drooping ears. The coloration of the coat can range from light golden to deep mahogany red. The breed also has good adaptability to all climates; their thick coat and hard skin keep them warm in winter, and the coat molts in summer. Sows are known to produce large litters. The breed has a calm temperament and is least aggressive of all pig breeds.
Yorkshire Pig

The Yorkshire pig was developed in Yorkshire, Northern England in 1761 as the Large White pig. The breed is a cross between large indigenous white pig of North England and the smaller, fatter, white Chinese pig. Around 1830, the Yorkshire breed was introduced to the United States in the Ohio state. The American Yorkshire pigs are white in color (sometimes with dark areas) and have erect ears, and short pugged noses. The pigs are rough and strong with good adaptability to climate and other ecological factors. Sows are known to have an average litter of 13 piglets.

Landrace Pig

Landrace strain was first developed in Denmark around 1895 as a cross between the native Danish pigs and the Large White from England. The breed was introduced into the United States in the early 1830s. The Landrace pigs have white coloration often with small black spots. The American Landrace pigs are long and lean with a long and narrow head. The ears are large and heavy, drooping forward with the top edges almost parallel to the bridge of a straight nose. Sows of the breed are known for producing plenty of milk and raising large litters.

Miniature Breeds

Yucatan Miniature Pig

The parent stock of the Yucatan miniature pigs was obtained from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The breed was introduced to the United States in 1960. The first micro-sized Yucatan was developed using a small Yucatan boar in the Colorado State University. The breed has a docile nature and adapts well with human interactions. Mature non-obese boars on average can weigh about 83 kg while sows can be about 70 kg, with average height and length of 57 cm and 76 cm, respectively. The breed has highly pigmented color (Slate-gray) and often are hairless or have very little hair. Since the Yucatan miniature pigs are native to the tropical region, intensive management is required for cold weather conditions.

Hanford Miniature Pig

The Hanford miniature breed was developed at the Hanford Labs, Richland, Washington in 1958. The breed was a result of crossing Palouse gilts with a Pittman-Moore boar. Additional reduction in size was obtained by introducing Swamp hog from Louisiana and adding more Pittman-Moore to the mix. Mature pigs can weigh around 75 kg and tend to have less subcutaneous fat in comparison to other breeds. The breed looks much like traditional farm pigs with its white hair coat. Their calm nature makes them well-adapted for laboratory environments.

Sinclair Miniature Pig

The Sinclair miniature breed was developed by crossing four feral breeds at the Hormel Institute at the University of Minnesota in the year 1949. Addition of a Yorkshire boar to the stock resulted in white hair colored pigs. The breed was the first miniature stock to be specifically developed for research. The Sinclair breed has a slow growth rate. The miniatures are available in variations of haircoat colors.

Göttingen Miniature Pig

The Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics at the University of Göttingen, Germany, began developing of the Göttingen miniatures. The breed was developed by crossbreeding the Minnesota minipig, the Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, and the German Landrace pig. The breed is the smallest of the domestic pig breeds with adult weight around 30 to 40 kgs. The Göttingen pigs are known for their docile nature and well-characterized health status. The breed has white non-pigmented skin.

Training Considerations

Pigs fall in the category of prey animals, and thus are sensitive animals that do require a certain amount of attention to ensure their overall well-being in a laboratory set-up. The following are some considerations to take into account to ensure the animal’s welfare.

  • Allow the animals to acclimate to the research environment at least one week prior to any testing. Regular, positive interactions with the pigs make them easy to handle and reduce Care must be taken to prevent any negative interactions with the animals since it will result in increased fear.

 

  • Pigs should be maintained in an enriched environment with materials that are safe and have either of the following qualities: edible (preferably with some nutritional benefits), chewable, investigable and manipulatable.

 

  • Enrichments used in the holding chamber should be clean since pigs will avoid interacting with soiled items.

 

  • Pigs should preferably be maintained in groups given their social nature. However, if they are to be maintained in isolation, the holding chamber should be such that it permits visual, auditory and olfactory interactions with the other animals. Complete social isolation is not recommended since it can significantly affect the animal’s behaviors.

 

  • Appropriate bedding and flooring must be used that either provide a thermoneutral zone or the opportunity to thermoregulate by wallowing or huddling. The right choice of flooring is also essential to ensure that animals do not suffer any discomfort or injuries. Long natural straw is an excellent choice for bedding material.

 

  • Pigs are strong and forceful animals. Holding chambers should be made of sturdy materials and any loose objects such as feeders and waterers should be securely fastened to cages.

 

  • Pigs should not be tethered since it will result in chronic stress.

 

  • Physical restraining of the animals during research should be only done after the animal has acclimated to the device and the handling. Further, it is advisable to keep restraining to a minimum. Restraining devices such as the sling tend to have a calming effect on the animal, and hence such devices are recommended.

 

  • Chemical restraint that offers minimal stress should be used for invasive procedures to prevent negative handling experiences.

 

  • Pigs should not be subjected to forced movement and handling. Allow the subjects to run up and down the aisle at least once a week to reduce stress and make their handling easier. It is also recommended that individual animals are always taken along with a familiar conspecific for research to reduce stress and anxiety.

 

  • Dietary requirements of pigs used as laboratory animals will defer from their farm counterparts. Diets should be adjusted to maintain the size and body condition required for the research.

 

  • Appropriate pain management techniques should be kept in place to avoid any unnecessary discomfort to the animals.

Pigs in Research

Overall, rodents are indispensable in advancing our understanding of basic biological processes, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic interventions, contributing significantly to biomedical and scientific progress.

Strengths and Limitations

Summary

  • Pigs are evolutionarily closer to humans. Interest in pigs as animal models peaked in the 18th
  • Porcine model is a popular non-rodent model due to its physiologic, anatomic, and pathologic similarities to humans.
  • The large size of pigs is comparable to humans and allows the use of human clinical devices.
  • Popular domestic breed pigs include Duroc, Yorkshire, Landrace, and crossbreeds.
  • Popular miniature breeds include Yucatan mini and micro, Hanford, Sinclair, and Göttingen.
  • Miniature pigs are easy to handle and maintain in comparison to the domestic variety. Further, the development of transgenic miniature varieties allows for a more cohesive investigation of human diseases.
  • Pigs tend to have large litters which permit reduction of experimental variability.
  • Physical or chemical restraining that offers minimal stress to the animals should be used when required.
  • Pigs are very social and possess complex cognition. Social isolation, poor holding environments, and negative interactions have a significant effect on the animal’s behaviors.
  • Holding environments should be constructed taking into consideration the lack of sweat glands in pigs.
  • Dietary requirements of laboratory pigs will require appropriate adjustments to meet the experiment’s requirements.

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