Farrowing Rates: Going Back to Basics and Paying Attention to Detail

November 27, 2013 — 

Maximizing farrowing rate requires a focus on the basic aspects of management and close attention to detail, Steinbach, Manitoba-based veterinarian Dr. Blaine Tully told delegates at the recent Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop.

He was describing the findings from his work carrying out fertility assessments on swine farms across Canada over the last three years. "Very few of our conclusions reveal ‘new’ information about sow reproduction," he said. "In other words, 95 per cent of farms with suboptimal fertility and therefore reduced farrowing rates have very similar deficiencies in the execution of basic breeding barn tasks." This applies to all types and sizes of farm, whether using natural service or AI, he added.

"Suboptimal farrowing rate will increase the cost of production by increasing non-productive days (NPDs). On many farms, we also find a link between reduced farrowing rate and litter size." He noted that the opportunity cost of a five per cent reduction in farrowing target on a 1,000-sow unit was about $71,000 annually in the breeding herd alone.

Tully said that the value of the fertility audit was in viewing procedures with an outside set of eyes and providing a different perspective. It also allows the relevant farm protocols to be reviewed in the light of what is observed on farm and the results achieved.

Tully has identified five key areas of management typically in need of improvement on the farms he has surveyed:

• Boar management
• Sow management post weaning
• Gilt development
• Insemination technique
• Breeding protocols

To learn more about the importance of attention to detail in these key management topics, click here.

Source: Manitoba Co-Operator, November 20, 2013