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Industry Partners
Prairie Swine Centre is an affiliate of the University of Saskatchewan
Prairie Swine Centre is grateful for the assistance of the George Morris Centre in developing the economics portion of Pork Insight.
Financial support for the Enterprise Model Project and Pork Insight has been provided by:
Alternative Value Chains: Jones Feed Mills Case Study
Posted in: Pork Insight Articles, Production, Welfare by admin on April 1, 2009 | No Comments
In the Breton Family development of niche market products, Jones Feed Mills partnered with the duBreton for a 3 site production that is Certified Humane®. The Certified Humane® program feeds wholesome, nutritious feed with no mammalian protein, antibiotics, or growth promoters, and feeders must allow easy access to feed. Average weaning age must by 28 days or more, and creep feed needs to be supplied from day 10 on. Water must be clean and accessible, building specifications need to be recorded, and a comfortable lying space must be provided. Specific space allowances need to be followed, pigs must have freedom of movement, and confinement is only allowed under certain circumstances. Traditional farrowing crates are not allowed, sows must be given nesting material, and sows must be kept in the farrowing area for 28 days after farrowing. Environmental enrichment must be given, isolation is only allowed for quarantine/treatment, and abnormal behaviours (ex. tail biting) should be documented and steps taken to eliminate the behaviour. Finally, units must have an Animal Health Plan, sick animals need to be treated, and the only physical alterations allowed are needle teeth clipping, castration before 7 days, and boar tusk trimming. Ear notching and routine tail docking are not allowed.
Reducing Grower-Finisher Feed Costs
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A feed program can be formed with a nutritionist by creating a plan, evaluating the outcome, review the plan, and make revisions. Since monitoring is decreasingly performed, and when it is done can often be inaccurately performed or recorded, two software programs have been developed: qboxanalysis and qscan. Qboxanalysis compares carcass characteristics to specific processor demands. Qscan is a performance monitoring tool, and it records growth through cameras in the barn.
Reducing Feed Costs in Grower-Finisher Barns
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Feed remains the largest cost to pork producers, so every option to reduce costs should be considered. Some of the ways to reduce feed costs are to have a high health status, phase feed, split sex feed, reduce wastage, use alternative ingredients and have an accurate feed budget. One case study involves a farrow to finish facility that wanted to improve ADG and feed conversion after changing terminal sire lines. It was found the feed budget was inaccurate in later grower stages, and a feed intake trial allowed a feed intake curve and ADG curve to be created. The budget and curves highlighted areas to change and revisions in the diets have improved performance.
Hog Price Reporting in Canada
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Marketing agencies were traditionally used to provide producers with economic power, but increased exportation and consolidation has changed the marketing options. Through interviews, the price reporting in each pork producing province was documented. Alberta uses marketing organizations like Western Hog Exchange, but has no official government reporting. Saskatchewan uses an organization called SPI that uses Maple Leaf contract prices. Manitoba has a provincial government report, a Maple Leaf report, and a Manitoba Pork Marketing report. Quebec reports prices through the Federation of Quebec Pork Producers. PEI uses the Hog Commodity Marketing Board based on Ontario Pool numbers. Each report varies in the way to access the information and the frequency of updates.
Improving Energy Use Efficiency
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Heating, lighting, and ventilation are the main uses of electricity in a barn. Through proper management and equipment pig performance and cost savings can both be achieved. An energy audit is useful for identifying areas that can be improved, and will provide energy management opportunities (EMOs). EMOs often involve changes to heating or motors. Energy conservation also commonly involves changes to improve fan efficiency and lighting choices.
Improving Energy Use Efficiency – Reducing and Refining the Use of Energy Inputs on Farm
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The main energy consumption in barns is through heating, lighting, ventilation, and on-farm feed mills. An energy audit can identify where energy is being used, and develop options to reduce consumption (and cost). The 9 steps to perform an audit are define boundaries, compile documentation, do a walk through audit, a preliminary analysis, develop energy management opportunities, a diagnostic audit, make recommendations, implement changes, and continue to monitor and target energy use. An energy audit can be self-conducted or contracted out, and can provide significant savings. An audit can provide a benchmark, but an actual energy benchmarking audit can be performed and allow comparisons between producers. Some of the common energy saving options are to change to more efficient light bulbs, to insulate and seal drafts, change to dual or energy efficient fans, install a water cooling system, changing the heating system, and properly setting controls.
Practical Management to the Transition to Batch Farrowing
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Aarden Farms transitioned to batch farrowing in 2007, and they give their experience with the transition. Some of the positives of batch farrowing are that a large group of pigs will become available at one time, breeding is more efficient, farrowing sows receive more attention, and specialized labourers can be trained and/or shared with other farms. The challenges include introducing gilts into the herd, repeats or open sows, hormone costs, and space limitations.
Hormonal Control of Pig Reproduction
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Synchronizing estrus in gilts and sows increases breeding scheduling efficiency and predictability, and can be achieved by using hormonal control products. During estrus, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) triggers the release of gonadotropins (FSH and LH), then ovary follicles grow and release estrogen, which results in estrus behaviours and increased GnRH. The GnRH then increases LH, and ova are released (ovulation). The eggs form a corpus luteum, which releases progesterone that inhibits FSH and LH. If fertilization does not occur, prostaglandin-F2α will be released, the corpus luteum regresses, and the estrus cycle begins again. PG 600 is made of equine and human chorionic gonadotropins (eCG and hCG) and triggers estrus cycling through its effect on FSH and LH. ECG can also be used alone to induce estrus through FSH, and GnRH or porcine luteinizing hormone (pLH) can be used to synchronize ovulation through their effect on LH. PGF2α can be used to synchronize estus, abort early pregnancies, or induce farrowing. Altrenogest is a progestin which suppresses gonadotropins, this allows for synchronization of estrus if fed until 5 days before the desired breeding dates.
Effective Ventilation
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Heat recovery systems and solar panels are two options to save energy and cost for heating. Producer experience in the nursery allowed the ventilation rate to be raised, obtained consistent and the proper inlet air speed when a duct was installed, and reduced the supplementary heat needed. In grow finish rooms, a heat exchanger allowed minimum ventilation to be run with no supplementary heat needed, and the best results were when an inlet duct was used and a portable heater used for the first few days. Heat recovery systems also allow gestation and breeding to have good air quality and temperature without additional heating. Individual stalls should have a duct system, but group housed sow systems can just use a diffuser. Solar walls in all rooms are beginning to be explored, and may provide heat that allows ventilation to be improved.
Effective Ventilation
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Ammonia from manure and moisture from swine respiration can combine to reduce air quality and increases odor when a room is not sufficiently ventilated. As pigs increase in size the moisture they contribute to the air will increase, so ventilation should be increased as well. Keeping the humidity below 70% and the ammonia below 20 ppm can result in heat loss during winter months, and the ventilation rate may not maintain air quality if it is based on temperature. An alternate heat source should be used in winter months to provide heat while the ventilation is used for air quality. Two of the most common problems with ventilation are not ventilating to control humidity and not using a heater. Heat exchangers or passive solar energy collectors are two options to provide heat while saving money.