215.766.7413

Live Animal Models

ABI is a USDA Class B Licensed Dealer (23-B-0155), which sells live porcine for research. All of the ABI delivery trucks, animal health and delivery records at the ABI Headquarters in Doylestown, PA, as well as the animal shipping room at the swine complex are regularly inspected by the USDA. ABI has been in compliance with the USDA/APHIS since becoming licensed in 1990.  All ABI operations meet and exceed the following guidelines.

  • The Animal Welfare Act. 2005
  • The Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Ag. Research and Teaching. 1988

Yorkshire CroSsbred

ABI research swine are raised in a large, isolated breeding and growing swine complex. All Yorkshire crossbred pigs are managed by professional porcine specialists and veterinarians to maintain the highest standards of health and genetics.

All animals for research are bred in the breeding building. Sows and gilts are bred via artificial insemination. Pregnant females are transferred to the farrowing building 1-2 weeks prior to giving birth. Newborn piglets lactate on their mothers for 21 days at which time they are weaned and moved into the nursery building. After another 21 days, all weaned pigs are transferred to the growing buildings where they are grouped in large pens.

State-of-the-art climate-controlled buildings

All growing areas are state-of-the-art climate-controlled buildings. Growing pigs receive special diets formulated on the farm for each age and weight group according to the NRC (National Research Council) (1983) recommendations. Air in some buildings is hepa-filtered with up to 100 fresh air changes per hour. Temperature is maintained year round at 74-80 degrees Fahrenheit. All feeding, watering and manure removal is done automatically.

When pigs are selected and sold for research, they remain in the same climate-controlled environment while being transported in the ABI delivery vehicles. While in transit to their client destinations, the animals are housed in compatible groups in spacious bedded pens. Here, filtered air flow of up to 100 changes per hour with constant temperature of 65-69 degrees Fahrenheit keep the animals comfortable and stress-free while being transported.

The breeding herd has been monitored annually for brucellosis and pseudorabies and has tested negative since 1994. The herd also tests negative for Salmonella Species. All production herd animals are vaccinated for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), Circovirus and Swine Influenza Virus (SIV). The breeding herd is wormed with Ivomec and vaccinated for Leptospirosis, Erysipelas and PRRS prior to breeding.

Young research swine receive iron at three days of age. They are vaccinated for Rhinitis and Mycoplasma and Hemophilus Pneumonia and are wormed with Fenbendazole at weaning. The pigs continue to receive Fenbendazole every four weeks until they grow out of the sales inventory weight range, which prevents internal parasite infestation and larval migration.

The ABI research swine herd has tested negative for Malignant Hyperthermia (MH). All genetics introduced into the herd are free of the MH (Stress) gene.

ABI has high-quality Yorkshire Crossbred research pigs available at all ages, sexes and weights all year round.

Related Blog Articles

×

The Value of Animal Growth Charts in Biomedical Research

Our porcine growth chart allows clients to know the expected rate (average daily gain) of growth over time of our Yorkshire cross bred swine herd at all ages.