Breeding Sow Mortality and Euthanasia
As pigs are becoming more prolific, the average mortality and euthanasia of breeding sows has doubled to 10%. There are many causes, the main ones were examined. The leading cause of death and euthanasia are prolapses accounting for 25-50% of...
Making Cents of Enrichment
Enrichment can be easily overlooked. It is now listed in the Canadian Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs that multiple forms of enrichment must be provided to improve their welfare. Enrichment reduces problematic behaviours like belly-nosing...
What can the Web Calculator do for Me?
A simple, personalizable web calculator has been developed by the Prairies Swine Centre and the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture in order to predict the value of technology adoption. Productivity, implementation costs, and health and safety impacts...
Group Sow Housing Feeding Systems Chart
A chart on the group sow housing feeding systems with pros and cons for each system. Group Sow Housing Feeding Systems Chart (full article)
Managing Water Intake, Auditing Best Management Practices
Water is the nutrient that is required in the greatest amount, though it often receives the least amount of attention. Finisher pigs’ water intake is up to three times their feed intake, though a lot of the water intake reported...
Finishing Facilities
Small changes have a large impact on the profitability of the operation in regard to finishing facilities due to the length of it. 16 finishing facilities were audited with many achieving a score above 80% for the adoption of best...
Pork Quality and What it Means For a Healthy Way of Eating
For a human to lose weight, it is recommended to have a diet with low carbohydrates, moderate protein and a high amount of fat, which may be surprising. Carbohydrates stimulate insulin release which moves energy from our blood into fat...
Nursery Facilities, Auditing Best Management Practices
Weaned pigs require a good environment without drafts, is dry with fresh air, water and feed in order to optimize nursery performance. Out of the 18 nursery facilities audited, management practices were good, though improvement can be made in regard...
Farrowing Systems, Auditing Best Management Practices
Birth to weaning is the most critical period in the life cycle of a pig. Farrowing practices directly impact the piglets and their performance and also the future breeding herd performance. 21 farms were audited across Canada to see the...
Gestation Housing Systems, Auditing Best Management Practices
The deadline to convert to group sow housing systems is 2024. In order to help this transition go smoothly, best management practices were looked at in 24 Canadian farms. Two thirds of the barns that have already switched over use...
Demonstrating Water Conservation
An essential nutrient for pig growth is water. Water wastage leads to increased costs and often comes from nipple drinkers. When they are adjusted properly the water wasted is up to 25%, but commonly commercial farms report 40 to 60%....
Washing Procedures, Auditing Best Management Practices
The top uses of water in swine barns are drinking and cleaning. Reducing water through water conservation strategies will reduce the cost of production and have a more sustainable environmental effect as less manure is produced. Most barns audited pre-soak...
