EBVS European College diplomas (e.g. DipECVS, DipECVIM-CA) · Europe · European Board of Veterinary Specialisation and the individual colleges
Original practice questions written to the published syllabus · not past papersManagement of pigs, horses, rabbits, laboratory rodents and companion animals: breeds, housing, farrowing and young-stock care.
In the exams: ICAR AICE-JRF core group 05 (LPM); NAVLE porcine 5%
How our questions for EBVS European College diplomas spread across the units of Livestock Production Management II: Monogastric and Laboratory Animals. Difficulty: 2 easy, 14 medium, 12 hard.
| Swine housing | 6 | |
| Laboratory animal housing and ethics-committee norms | 6 | |
| Piglet care | 5 | |
| Laboratory animal management | 5 | |
| Swine breeds | 2 | |
| Swine feeding and records | 2 | |
| Farrowing management | 1 | |
| Equine management | 1 |
Choose an answer, then open the working. Each explanation says why the right answer is right and why the others are not.
In a breeding pyramid, why do nucleus and multiplier herds keep stricter biosecurity than commercial herds?
D. Animals move down the pyramid, so infection at the top spreads to every herd below
Genetics (and pathogens) flow from nucleus to multiplier to commercial herds with live animals and semen, so one infected nucleus herd can infect hundreds of herds below. Nucleus herds hold purebreds, not crossbreds; multipliers produce F1 gilts, not only boars; commercial herds are also bound by disease law.
EU law requires that all pigs have permanent access to which of the following?
A. Manipulable material such as straw, hay, wood or sawdust
Directive 2008/120/EC requires sufficient manipulable material for rooting and investigation, which helps prevent tail biting. Wallows, daily outdoor access and fully solid floors are not general EU requirements; slatted floors remain legal within limits.
What is immunocastration in pigs?
D. A vaccine against gonadotrophin-releasing hormone that suppresses the testes
Immunocastration uses two injections of a GnRH vaccine; the antibodies block the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reduce androstenone and skatole. It is not an E. coli vaccine, does not use colostrum, and banding is a physical method used in calves and lambs, not pigs.
Under EU Directive 2008/120/EC, what is the general minimum weaning age for piglets?
A. 28 days
The minimum is 28 days unless welfare or health would otherwise suffer; piglets may be weaned up to seven days earlier (21 days) only into specialised, cleaned housing, which is why 21 days is the tempting wrong answer. 14 and 42 days are not the legal figures.
Under EU rules, which statement about teeth reduction and tail docking of piglets is correct?
A. Neither may be done routinely; both need evidence of injuries despite other measures
The Directive forbids routine teeth reduction and tail docking; they may be done only where evidence shows injuries to sows or other pigs occur, and only after other measures to improve environment and management have been tried. Teeth reduction must be done within seven days of birth.
Feed for one finished pig costs 108 currency units and feed makes up 70 per cent of the total cost of production. The carcass weighs 85 kg. What is the break-even price per kg of carcass?
D. About 1.82 units
Total cost = 108 / 0.70 = 154.3 units; break-even = 154.3 / 85 = 1.82 units per kg. Using feed cost alone gives 108 / 85 = 1.27; multiplying 108 x 0.70 / 85 gives 0.89; 2.54 does not follow from the figures.
A pig farm in a region with African swine fever asks which single measure gives the greatest protection. Which is the best answer?
A. Strict external biosecurity: no pork products, controlled entry, fenced boundary
ASF has no widely approved vaccine, so prevention depends on external biosecurity: banning pork products, fencing out wild boar, controlling people, vehicles and feed, and early reporting. Swill of any kind is a known route; antibiotics have no effect on a virus.
Ten here, 28 in the app. The Laisha app has every practice question we have written to EBVS European College diplomas in this subject, marked as you go, with timed papers, a jump-to-unanswered list and a certificate when you pass at 70 per cent.
Free for ten days, then one subscription of US$10 a month. We would rather say so here than have you find it later.
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