Sinclair Bio Resources has a well-established miniature swine production program. We also provide complete service support for animal sales. Pre-shipping conditioning is an integral part of our production program; it starts with the selection of the miniature swine and includes health and socialization considerations. All miniature swine are socialized on a daily basis and the intensity of this socialization program increases prior to shipment of miniature swine. Behavioral training is implemented for all animals as well. Surgical alterations are performed as requested. The miniature swine are delivered either in our AAALAC-accredited climate-controlled trucks or by approved shipping companies.
Additionally, we can provide bio-samples from miniature swine as well as other species, per request and depending on availability, for in vitro studies.
Sinclair Bio Resources provides an array of bio-samples from multiple domestic species:
- Blood products (whole blood, plasma – all anticoagulants, serum)
- Bone marrow aspirates/cells
- CSF fluid
- Intra-articular joint fluid
- Bile
- Urine
- Tissue or organs
Pre-shipping Conditioning
We consider pre-shipping conditioning of our miniature swine to be an integral part of our production program. The pre-shipping conditioning begins with the selection of the miniature swine and includes health and socialization considerations.
Health Status
Sinclair Bio Resources’ miniature swine are bred and reared at our biosecure restricted-access facilities, and both our breeding stock and resale animals have a high health status. Our colonies are closed; no new animal entry has been allowed for many years. A staff veterinarian visits the facility at least weekly to check animals and perform pre-shipment examinations. Our miniature swine are free of many disease agents of concern; breeding herds are routinely checked for and are free of brucellosis, pseudorabies, PRRS, influenza, leptospirosis, VSV, PCV2, TGE, and PEDv. Our three most recent Herd Health Profiles are available for viewing.
Additionally, standard vaccinations are practiced for all animals, and animals are screened for both endoparasites and ectoparasites. All animals receive a physical examination during pre-purchase selection and are shipped with health papers signed by an accredited veterinarian. Our miniature swine are guaranteed to be robust and extremely healthy.
Miniature swine shipped outside the United States are required to be tested for specific pathogens and may have to be quarantined prior to shipping according to the laws of the country of importation.
Animal Selection
Our miniature swine are well-adapted to the laboratory environment and are very useful when there is limited space is available.
Animals are selected in compliance with client requirements. Selected animals are given a physical examination and identification is verified for each animal. A list that summarizes each animal’s identification, age, color, body weight, and pen location is generated and included with the shipment. The pen location is important in planning for commingling of animals in group housing conditions at the client’s facility.
Behavioral Enhancement System™
Please visit the Behavioral Enhancement System™ page for more information.
Pre-shipping Alterations
Sinclair Bio Resources is well-equipped to conduct many pre-shipping procedures ranging from simple to complex and can condition, alter, or select miniature swine from our four breeds to fit requested specifications.
Common pre-shipping alterations include:
- Vascular access port placement
- High cholesterol diet feeding to induce atherosclerotic, dyslipidemic, or hypercholesterolemic pigs
- Diabetes induction and stabilization
- Castration or ovariectomy
- Test article administration to decrease clients’ study timeline
- Biopsy collection for autotransplantation
We are highly experienced in miniature swine pre-shipping surgical alterations and all our procedures are performed in the spirit of GLP.
Sinclair Bio Resources also provides special services such as diagnostic imaging by DEXA, US, CT, MRI, digital radiography for bone density, growth plate closure, whole body composition, heart and vessel size, and skin or hypodermal fat thicknesses; we additionally offer experimental surgery, ECG, and echocardiography.
