Improved Performance =
Improved Profit
Innovations For Increasing Numbers Weaned
BPEX 2TS Focus on Farrowing
Spring 2011
Philip van den Brink
Zarkos‐Smith Associates & SwiNco
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Improvement Via Increased Numbers
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
BPEX 2TS Sow (Benchmark)
• Carcase weight (kg) per sow per year*:
– Great Britain 1,608
– Denmark 2,075
– Netherlands 2,279
– France 2,109
– Germany 1,993
– Ireland 1,789
– EU Ave 2,000
* Source: Pig Cost of Production in Selected Countries, 2009
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Results From Dutch Breeding Farms 2009
The best farms have the most benefit!
Avg
Worst
20%
Weaned/sow/y
27,5
24,9
26,7
27,6
28,5
30,1
Live born/litter
13,2
12,6
13,0
13,2
13,4
13,8
Mortality (%)
12,9
13,8
13,6
13,0
12,6
11,3
Weaned/litter
11,5
10,9
11,2
11,5
11,7
12,2
502
419
459
495
535
606
Margin over costs
Best
20%
Farms (20%) with lowest mortality percentage until weaning have an average of 9% mortality
Source: kengetallenspiegel
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
How To Raise Those Piglets?
• Colostrum and start of milk production is key:
– How many piglets can you raise on a sow?
– How many active teats does your gilt/sow have?
– What is the weight gain of the piglets in the first week?
– What is the litter gain per day?
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
How To Raise Those Piglets?
• Colostrum and start of milk production is key:
– How many piglets can you raise on a sow?
• 12/13
– How many active teats does your gilt/sow have?
• 14/12
– What is the weight gain of the piglets in the first week?
• Day 0 =1.4 kg
• Day 7 = 2.8 kg
– What is the litter gain per day?
• 2.5 to 3.0 kg
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
How Can This Be Achieved?
• Feed concept should be pro‐metabolism
– Activate energy metabolism in lactation
• Liver stimulants:
– Acids
– Phosphorus
– Carnitine
– Activate calcium metabolism before farrowing
• Calcium/Phosphorus/vit D
• Electrolyte balance (Na, K, Cl, S)
– Fit sows at farrowing
• Make sure the manure is soft around farrowing
– Feed and water supply
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Colostrum Management & Research
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Colostrum Research
• First born piglets have high Ig‐G levels
• Light born piglets have low Ig‐G levels
• Low Ig‐G levels result in high mortality
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Importance Of Rapid Colostrum Intake
Überlebungschance Tag 0 - 3
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
Geburtsgewicht = 1.75 kg
Geburtsgewicht = 1.25 kg
Geburtsgewicht = 0.75 kg
0.2
0.1
0
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Zeit bis erste Kolostrumaufnahme in Min
Source TOPIGS, 2006
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Colostrum Management
• Sows:
– Good introduction of gilts into the sow herd (adaptation)
– Vaccination program in gestation for young sows
– Make sure that there is enough colostrum available from the sow:
• Feed program
• Prevent MMA problems
• Prevent udder oedema
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Colostrum Management
• Farmer:
– Check on the farrowing process every two hours
– Mark the first born piglets
– Focus on weak piglets
• Just born …put them at the udder
• 2 hours old… put them under the lamp
– Focus on light piglets
• Put them at the udder
– No treatments on new born piglets (24 hours after birth)
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Colostrum Management
• Piglets:
– Surplus piglets? Then split suckling
– When the total litter is born, close in the 4‐6 first born/heavy/full piglets for 2 hours and let the later born/small piglets drink colostrum.
– In the next two hours all piglets have access to the udder.
– Repeat this procedure once.
– 15% of the piglets are lighter than 1000 gram
• Extra attention!!! (equalise competition)
• Euthanisation?
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Split Suckling & The Right Way To Lock In Piglets
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The Next Level: Use Rescue Decks To Save Piglets
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Introduction
• Current situation: Increasing production with high piglet mortality • Crushing
• Starving
• Weak piglets
Î Intake of insufficient nutrients
Solution to save piglets that will normally starve and/or die:
• Rescue Deck
• Rescue Milk
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Rescue Deck ‐ System
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Rescue Deck Location
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Rescue Deck ‐ Cups
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Which Piglets Go In A Rescue Deck?
Which Piglets?
Starved Piglets
Piglets With Low
Birth Weight
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Starved Piglets (4‐8 days of age)
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Starved Piglets (4 days in deck)
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Rescue Deck In Practice
Commercial Farm (440 sows)
Rescue Decks
Live born
Weaned
Mortality rate
Farrowing rate
Weaned/sow/y
2006
no
12.8
11.6
8.8
2.33
27.0
2007
yes
13.6
12.4
9.3
2.38
29.5
2008
yes
13.6
12.6
6.9
2.46
31.1
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Source: Provimi Field Research
Summary: Rescue Decks
•
•
•
•
Reduce mortality
Increase health status Increase uniformity
Prevent post‐weaning dip Save that last piglet!
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011
Take Home Message
New developments in sow feed programmes and colostrum management, together with the Rescue Deck concept, can improve technical and financial results.
Is your farm is ready for the next level?!
© Zarkos-Smith Associates 2011