WHAT IS A FETAL PIG

WHAT IS A FETAL PIG ?

Fetal pigs are collected from the packing house as a by-product of the meat industry. These pigs are removed from the uterus of pregnant sows, taken to our facility where they are preserved. These pigs would otherwise be discarded.

REASONS FOR USING FETAL PIGS
IN THE CLASSROOM DISSECTION  Anatomy of the fetal pig closely resembles that of man. Unlike a frog (an amphibian), the fetal pig is a mammal.
 Economical - fetal pigs can cost less than using the same size frog, rat or any other vertebrate.
 By-product of the food industry. These fetal pigs are considered waste products of packing houses.
 Abundant - as long as pork is consumed, fetal pigs will continue to be available.
 The fetal pig was never born; it did not "die" for dissection purposes. For those concerned about the use of live animals in scientific study, these fetal pigs are a viable alternative.
 Soft fetal tissue is easy to dissect.

WHERE DO FETAL PIGS COME FROM?
 Sows are sent to market to be butchered. As part of the butchering process, we remove many organs including the uterus. Fetal pigs in various stages of development are often found within the uterus.
 These fetal pigs are removed from the uterus and are then transported to our laboratory for proper preservation and injections.
 Sows ARE NOT bred for the purpose of producing fetal pigs for dissection. Fetal pigs are a by-product of the food industry.
 Pig embryos that are not used for education will be used in the production of fertilizer or will be discarded. WHY WOULD FARMERS SEND PREGNANT SOWS TO MARKET?
 During extreme cold and extreme heat the mortality rate for sows increase. Rather than risk having the sow die from uncontrollable weather conditions, farmers will often send the sow to market to recover some of their investment.
 Farmers will often raise a larger number of sows than they expect to keep. This way the farmer can sell off