Three points to watch for optimal productivity include mouldy feed, gilt pool, and adequate number of serviced sows per week. Certain new barn equipment has areas where mouldy feed can build up. This mould build up can produce mycotoxins, which can be extremely harmful to pigs. This can affect conception, 4 to 8 week failure rate, and result in repeat estrus. Preventative measures include checking regularly for mouldy feed, graphing reproductive performance, and using a farrowing rate decision tree. The goals of any gilt program should be better sow longevity, productivity consistency across parities, and a better gilt pool predictability. Gilt pool checklists are great to normalize any gilt program. This should include gilt age at service, finisher phase diet, modified open gilt diet, consistent teaser boar, biofeedback for immunity, and proper pen space. Breeding the right number of sows per week is important to reduce variation in pig flow. This can be accomplished by using graphs and information from PigCHAMP to hit the weekly target.









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