SOLVING HEALTH PROBLEMS WITH GENETICS

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Canada has a high health status in relation to pig breeding and this is a competitive
advantage in terms of being a world leader in the supply of pig genetics across the globe. Although it is possible to maintain this status through strict biosecurity and isolation at the top of the production pyramid, it soon breaks down at the commercial level. Instead, a range of additional management measures are required including vaccination, and threesite and all-in-all-out production. When disease occurs then one of the most important impacts, in addition to the cost of treatment and mortality, is the cost of morbidity, or put another way the impact on growth. This is an aspect that is sometimes overlooked as people talk about disease resistance, and think of a bullet-proof animal, perhaps as a result of the success of vaccination, rather than differences in levels of susceptibility. Although there are some examples of genetic resistance to disease in pigs, in most cases this is not
achievable, instead we should focus on reducing the impact of disease when it occurs and how genetics can impact this component of health.

There are clear examples where it is possible to select for resistance to a pathogen, such as E. coli F18, which is responsible for edema disease, a significant problem in some regions. However, there are still very few examples where genetics has been used to help improve pig health. One reason for this is the complexity of the trait, in most cases animals are not resistant to a disease, instead they vary in their
susceptibility to the disease agents. Another reason is the difficulty in adding a specific disease trait into selection indices. In addition, although we now have the possibility of adding genetics to our toolbox for health it is still difficult to demonstrate the potential of the approach. The availability of new high throughput genomics tools provides the opportunity to change this situation.

ELECTRONIC SOWFEEDING: SLAT-LEVEL CONSIDERATIONS

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Electronic sow feeding (ESF) is the only alternative to gestation stalls that provides true individual animal nutrition. For producers with high production expectations, it is likely the best choice. ESF also promises the opportunity to further automate sow management (eg spray marking of animals requiring vaccination or selection of animals needing to move to farrowing). ESF farms are pushing above 30 pigs weaned per sow per year and thus the technology itself, if properly managed, is not a barrier to outstanding production.

SLAT LEVEL CONSIDERATIONS

• Parity Segregation
• Group Structure
  • Dynamic
  • Static
• Time of Group Formation
  • Pre-Implantation
  • Post-Implantation
• Design of Pens
  • Space allowance
  • Feeder capacity
  • Pen size
  • Pen shape
  • Pen dividers
  • Solid laying areas
  • Waterer placements

PRACTICAL LABOUR TIPS TO IMPROVE PIGLET SURVIVABILITY

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1. Sanitation
   • Prepping a room
     • Remove all left-over feed.
     • Scrape down manure.
     • Wet down the entire penning and floors, degrease, and allow to sit for 30 minutes.
     • Then wash the entire room, including walls.
     • Once this is completed, do a final rinse, and when you are satisfied with the cleanliness, disinfect.
   • When is a room considered ready to load sows?
     • The next morning, once it is dry.
     • Never before maintenance is done, including water nipples, heat lamps, ventilation and inlets, and any damage that could cause discomfort to the sows and pigs.
     • All crates include a 12”x12” black rubber mat, set directly under the side heat lamp, which is set at 18”.
     • All crates include a back lamp that is turned on 3 days prior to due date, and shut off after processing, to discourage piglets from laying there. There is also a side lamp that remains on the entire time.
2. Feeding Sows and Pre & Post Farrowing
   • Feeding the Sows
     • All sows come to the crates with their individual cards and their previous feed card.
     • All information regarding the sow is documented and is very valuable to the farrowing technician.
     • Information on the cards include early/late farrowings, savaging, history of stillborns, illness, quality of teats and underlines, good milker, good mom
3. Standard Operating Procedures – Day One and onward
4. The People behind the Pigs

PRACTICAL LABOUR TIPS TO IMPROVE PIGLET SURVIVABILITY

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The ultimate goal of a farrowing facility management system is to produce a high number of mature and healthy weaned piglets. The older and bigger the piglet is at weaning, the higher the gain, the better the feed efficiency and the lower the cost up to slaughter. Management around the farrowing process therefore has a great impact over the entire life of the pig.

MÉNARD APPROACH

• Choose the good sows
  • Genetic choice has a major impact on total number born but also milking ability, mothering temperament and weight of piglets at birth.
  • Number of functional teats is highly important.
• Keep your sows in good body condition and feed them well.
  • Body condition at farrowing has an important impact on milk production and feed intake.
• Respect the natural gestation time for sows
• Give the research to your people and let them improve their practices
• Before farrowing
  • Remove feces behind the sows continuously before and during farrowing.
  • Put recycled paper mats and drying agent down.
  • Adjust heat lamps to a good height and turn them on.
• At farrowing
  • no induction, do not use oxytocin, minimum sleevings, dry the
    piglets and no teeth clipping
• Cross fostering
  • Leave the maximum number of piglets on their own mother
  • Push the lactation for each individual sow
• Culling the right sows
  • Those weaning less than 9 piglets because of a bad udder or crushing.
  • Those with a long farrowing process
  • Those with bad legs
  • The cannibals

PRODUCTION AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF HIGH PRODUCING SOW FARMS

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Sow productivity and sow farm performance are the foundations of modern, integrated pork production. Most pork producers consider the production of weaned pigs to be a cost centre and rely on the growth phases (nursery-finishing or wean-to-finish) to fully realize the value of high-quality weaned pigs. Above-average sow productivity results in a lower average cost per weaned pig. Benchmark analysis of the largest pork producers in North America consistently shows that weaned pig cost ranks as one of the most important factors in overall profitability of pork production systems. Lower weaned pig cost correlates strongly with higher profitability. The Top 25% ranked on overall company profitability had consistently lower weaned pig costs. Keep in mind that weaned pig cost can change dramatically, and has in the past 3-4 years, mainly due to big changes in feed cost. Nevertheless, at any given time, it is sow productivity that drives variation in weaned pig cost structure across sow farms.

LABOUR CHALLENGES WITH PIGLET SURVIVABILITY

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Some people are better at improving piglet survivability than others. Here is the list of features that makes the best candidates:
1. Motivated and positive
2. Good observation skills
3. Good Judgment
4. Quick to intervene
5. Decision makers
6. Always want to improve/be competitive
7. Attention to detail
8. Question themselves
9. Honest
10. Proud
11. Passionate

ELECTRONIC SOWFEEDING (ESF) CONSIDERATIONS

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We have identified several opportunities associated with the implementation of electronic sow feeding for the improvement of sow herd nutrition and management. This includes improved feed utilization by the reduction of feed needed to maintain individual animal body condition, better matching of feed delivered to changing nutritional needs of sow during gestation through the use of software controlled feeding curves, automated control of gilt estrus via the delivery of Matrix to selected individual animals feeding in the ESF station, and a practical
solution to regulating the amount and timing of a feedback program in pen gestation to stimulate immunization against autogenous pathogens. The electronic identification of the sows via an RFID tag also opens the door for additional digital management of the herd such as spray marking of animals requiring vaccination or selection of animals to move to farrowing. However, these advantages of ESF cannot be captured without some forethought on how the barn will be staffed, how these people will be trained, and gilts will enter the herd both at start-up and for the rest of the life of the ESF facility.

PEDV AND THE FEED SUPPLY CHAIN – RISK AND BIOSECURITY

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The role of contaminated feed in the transmission of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) has been the trigger for several research projects and industry wide speculation since its emergence in the USA in April 2013. The emergence of the PEDV in Canada, in January 2014, intensified the focus upon ingredients of porcine origin as a contaminant that could transform swine feed and the components of swine feed (e.g. basemix) into a fomite that might facilitate the transmission of infectious pathogens into non-positive swine herds (i.e. naïve and negative).

ADVANTAGES, DISADVANTAGES AND ECONOMICS IMPACTS OF BATCH FARROWING

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Traditionally, pig producers have used a continuous flow production method, which
usually involves weekly mating, farrowing and weaning. As a result, a farrowing room may house piglets ranging from newborn to weaning age, while grower sheds may house pigs with an age spread from 10 weeks to slaughter weight. In America, most growing/ finishing swine facilities have been operated on a continuous basis; barns always contain pigs of different ages and weight. Due to the fact that pigs are always present, it is impossible to thoroughly clean, disinfect, or fumigate the environment. It is generally assumed that the common air space shared by pigs of various age groups allows for both clinical and subclinical diseases to be more prevalent and be transmitted easily in these types of facilities. Indeed, this mixing of age groups maximize the spread of disease and increases the reliance of medication in order to control disease which further adds to the cost of production.

RETROFITTING FOR LOOSE HOUSING

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Planning for group housing is perhaps the most important step in the conversion process. Regardless of the system implemented, the transition to groups requires a significant investment of time and money. Understanding what the options are, and imagining how these options fit within the long term goals of the operation, are critical steps in making the right choice. Good planning is also important to help maintain herd flow and generally ease the transition for barn staff and animals. This talk presents three main areas to be addressed when considering the transition to group gestation. First of all the type of construction project needs to be considered: will it be a renovation of current facilities; an addition to an existing building (e.g. providing space for loose housing or an increase in overall herd size); or is it a new build? The second question addressed is; what feeding system will be implemented? Unlike stall housing, where feeding and management options are limited, group housing includes a large number of options. Becoming knowledgeable about feeding options, including their strengths and weaknesses in terms of cost, barn layout, technical requirements and daily management inputs going forward, is crucial when selecting the right system for your operation. The third area to be considered is how the transition will take place. This will vary depending on the availability offsite barns, parity distribution and disease status, among other factors. Some options include keeping the existing herd intact; making a temporary reduction in the herd size; or doing a complete repopulation.Making decisions around barn renovations can be difficult but are extremely important. There are significant capital expenses and management changes- which will potentially impact farm production efficiency and economics for years to come. It is a good idea to consider this change as an opportunity to invest in the future, and to improve or properly size your business.