Fetal pigs serve as widely used specimens in biology education across various levels, from high school to university. These preserved specimens provide students with a hands-on opportunity to explore mammalian anatomy and gain insights into developmental biology. Through dissection, learners can observe organ systems, identify structures, and understand the relative positions of organs within a developing organism. This educational practice helps illuminate complex biological processes in a tangible way.
Source from Commercial Pork Industry
The availability of fetal pigs for educational purposes stems directly from the commercial pork industry. Sows are routinely processed for meat production, and a proportion of these animals are pregnant. The collection of fetal pigs is a secondary consequence of established agricultural practices, as they are not specifically bred or harvested for dissection.
They become available as a byproduct of the large-scale pork supply chain. If not collected for educational use, they would typically be discarded along with other biological byproducts of the meat processing industry. Their utilization in education repurposes materials that would otherwise be waste.
The Collection and Preservation Process
The process of obtaining fetal pigs for dissection begins at commercial slaughterhouses where pregnant sows are processed. During this operation, the reproductive tracts of the sows, which contain the uterus and any developing fetuses, are routinely removed. Companies specializing in supplying biological specimens then intercept these tracts before they are sent for disposal.
Once at the specimen preparation facility, trained personnel carefully extract the fetuses from within the uterine horns of the collected reproductive tracts. Each individual fetal pig is then prepared for preservation to prevent decomposition and maintain its anatomical structure for educational study.
Preservation typically involves a two-step method: injection and immersion. First, an embalming fluid, often a proprietary solution that may contain formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, or alcohol, is carefully injected into the arterial system of the fetal pig. This internal injection ensures the fluid reaches and preserves tissues throughout the body. Following injection, the specimens are fully immersed in a larger volume of the embalming solution for an extended period, allowing for thorough fixation and stabilization of the tissues.
After the preservation process is complete, the fetal pigs are prepared for packaging and distribution to educational institutions. They are commonly sealed individually or in small groups within durable plastic bags or containers. These packages contain a small amount of the preserving solution, which helps maintain the specimen’s hydration and integrity during transit and storage until it is ready for dissection.