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Good practices to optimize total born in multiparous sows/ MetaFarms sow data for Q4 2019 / MetaFarms production index Q4 2019 / Family of the year - The Hugosons / Thanks for your service Reuben Bode

SVC Newsletter – January 2020

Good practices to optimize total born in multiparous sows

One of the easiest ways to minimize cost on a sow farm is to increase the number of pigs weaned per sow. There are many factors that determine how many pigs will be weaned for each sow such as genetics, day one pig care, and average birth weight of piglets.  However, total born is arguably the most important factor in the equation. Below are some key strategies to focus on that will help you get the most out of your sows each time they farrow.

Maximize feed consumption during lactation

  • Maximizing feed consumption during lactation is directly correlated with milk output and with increased total born on the next litter.
  • A good target would be averaging 13 to 15 pounds of lactation feed intake per day per sow (depending on your genetics and length of lactation).

Lactation length

  • The industry still remains at a 21-day average across the board.
  • Breeding early-weaned sows on their first heat can be very detrimental to your total born numbers.
  • Sows require a minimum of 17 to 18 days of lactation to achieve optimal total born on their next farrowing.

Body condition

  • An obvious point that often gets overlooked.
  • Maintaining good body condition is extremely difficult on younger parity animals as they tend to have the largest litters after fostering while still growing and maturing themselves.
  • It’s best practice to full-feed in the farrowing house as well as full-feed low body condition sows until first service.
  • Lower body condition animals should not be bred until they have regained the condition lost during lactation.

Sow movements

  • Do not move sows from Day 5 to Day 35 post breeding.
  • Movements during this time can cause the newly formed fetuses to detach from the uterine wall.

Insemination timing

  • Semen needs to be delivered at least 6-8 hours prior to ovulation. If it’s not, the late timing of insemination can lower farrowing rates and result in fewer total born pigs.

Semen handling

  • Rotate semen twice a day—morning and afternoon.
  • Utilize freshly collected semen and avoid using semen that is greater than 5 days old.
  • Maintain semen in a refrigerator at 63 degrees Fahrenheit— record refrigerator temperature morning and afternoon.
  • Only take the amount of semen you need out to the barn with you—don’t let it sit around too long.

MetaFarms sow data for Q4 2019

Compiled by MetaFarms Analytics Team   (CLICK CHART TO ENLARGE)

The Q4 2019 MetaFarms Sow Production Index is based on MetaFarms Sow customers only. Data has been scrubbed and made anonymous to protect confidentiality. Data sources are from pork producers using the MetaFarms Platform, and represents over 360 sow farms located in both the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

Keep in mind that Sow performance is for the time period of October 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. Each metric is ranked independently against the others. Over 35 sow farms make up the Top 10%/Bottom 10% with nearly 295 as the average.

MetaFarms production index Q4 2019

(CLICK CHART TO ENLARGE)

The Q4 2019 MetaFarms Production Index is based on closeout performance for nursery, finishing and wean-to-finish groups and how they compare with the same period last year. Data has been scrubbed and made anonymous to protect confidentiality. Data sources are from pork producers using the MetaFarms Platform and represents over 500 pork production companies located in both the US and Canada. Nursery data includes over 2,000 closeouts, finishing data includes over 2,400 closeouts and more than 900 single stocked wean-to-finish closeouts.

Keep in mind that nursery groups closed in Q4 started on feed between July and November, finishing groups started on feed in April through September and wean-to-finish groups started on feed in March through July.

 

 

 


Family of the year – The Hugosons

Swine Vet Center would like to congratulate the Hugoson family, this year’s recipients of the “Family of the Year” Award at the 2020 Minnesota Pork Congress. This award honors a pork producing family who has contributed to the long term success of the industry through leadership and pork promotion on both the local and state levels. The Hugosons are a 5th generation farm family. Their farm was homesteaded in 1888 by Kevin’s great grandparents who immigrated from Sweden.

Thanks for your service—Reuben Bode

Courtland, Minnesota native Reuben Bode will be retiring from the Minnesota Pork Board. Reuben has served on the Minnesota Pork Board Executive Board for the last seven years. For two of those years, Reuben served as Chairman of the Board. Swine Vet Center would like to recognize Reuben for his years of serving the Minnesota pork industry. Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 


For more information, visit www.swinevetcenter.com

 

No portion of this newsletter may be used/copied without written consent of Swine Vet Center

PHT+ NEWS FEEDwhat is this?

What’s in a name? Understanding how flu viruses are identified can help fine-tune swine vaccine strategies

By Micah Jansen, DVM, Veterinary Manager, US Pork, Zoetis

Forecasting swine disease outbreaks

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have been working on a predictive model to forecast when a disease outbreak may occur on a farm.

Scientific foundation explains efficacy of Excede® for Swine against SRD pathogens

DISCOVERIES, Issue 22: A robust body of research explains the efficacy of Excede® for Swine (ceftiofur crystalline free acid) against four of the bacterial pathogens associated with swine respiratory disease.

Individual sow care offers benefits throughout the farm

Pig health and performance begin with the sow, which is why it’s critical for caregivers and production managers to evaluate each sow’s health, body condition, comfort, behavior and well-being as part of their daily routine. “By training workers, we can help them reduce sow mortality rates and culls, improve sow performance, stabilize the health status […]

Pigs with APP have less mortality, fewer lung lesions after treatment with Excede® for Swine compared to enrofloxacin

DISCOVERIES, Issue 20: Pigs with swine respiratory disease due to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae were treated with Excede® for Swine (ceftiofur crystallinefree acid) or enrofloxacin in a comparative challenge study.

Herd-status classification is first step to Mycoplasma control

By Lucina Galina Pantoja, DVM, PhD, Director, US Pork Technical Services, Zoetis

Negotiating extra label drug use rules

TOOLBOX, Issue 21: Rick Swalla, DVM, recently talked with editors of Pig Health Today about regulations concerning extra label drug use.

Mix it up: Resuspension times for injectable antibiotics can vary widely

DISCOVERIES, Issue 24: An analysis of three similar injectable antibiotics used for swine respiratory disease pathogens demonstrates that resuspension times can differ substantially.

Torremorell: Proven benefits of influenza vaccination

US producers and veterinarians have seen an influx of different types of influenza viruses in the last 10 to 15 years, and that is a major reason why influenza is more difficult to control.

Water: Essential nutrient often overlooked in pigs

Water doesn’t get the attention it deserves because it is abundant, easy to access and inexpensive, but that will change in the future, said John Patience, PhD, professor at Iowa State University.

Ct values predict PRRS nursery mortality, can guide vaccination decisions

DISCOVERIES, Issue 18: Obtaining cycle threshold (Ct) values based on processing fluids provides a practical way to identify neonatal pigs at risk for nursery mortality associated with PRRS and can help determine when vaccination is worthwhile.

Deen: Batch farrowing requires ‘different mindset’

It appears batch farrowing is making a comeback, according to John Deen, DVM, PhD, distinguished global professor at the University of Minnesota.

Iowa scientists focused on diagnosing, managing Streptococcus suis in pigs

Multi-disciplinary collaboration by academia, industry partners and the veterinary community is improving the diagnostics for and management of S. suis.

High prevalence of PCV2 recombinants highlights importance of broad vaccine coverage

DISCOVERIES, Issue 21: A recent analysis of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) genetic sequences shows that up to 25% of field strains are recombinants of diverse genotypes, highlighting the importance of broad protection when selecting a PCV2 vaccine.

Iowa scientist sees ‘a lot of genetic diversity’ in swine influenza viruses

According to research, swine influenza A viruses have become more complicated in recent years. There is a great deal of diversity within the influenza virus.

Three ways to assess your herd’s ‘positive welfare state’

The “Five Freedoms” have been the foundation for establishing sound animal welfare practices since they were developed in 1965. Now, more than 50 years later, researchers have additional tools and technologies to take that basic knowledge a step further.

Fostera® PRRS protects against diverse PRRS virus field strains

DISCOVERIES, Issue 19: PRRS has been described as one of the most important swine diseases of the last half-century. An estimated 20% to 25% of herds are still affected, and the syndrome remains the US swine industry’s most costly disease.

Pork’s future relies on trust throughout the pork value chain

In the end, raising hogs is about producing pork, and continuous success depends on building customers’ trust, listening to expectations and meeting their needs.

Genetic diversity makes swine influenza a challenge for producers

Influenza A virus in swine is one of the primary respiratory pathogens challenging swine production systems in the US and around the world.

Decontamination protocols fail to disinfect incoming hog supplies

Biosecurity protocols are critical to keeping the US hog herd healthy, and one of the regular tasks is to disinfect a wide range of supplies entering the farm, but how effective are those protocols?

What they don’t tell you in veterinary school: Take care of yourself

A romanticized view of the veterinary profession, gleaned from sources like the famous Brit, James Herriot’s novel “All Creatures Great and Small,” doesn’t always mesh with the reality.

Neonatal pigs with low levels of viremia may benefit from PRRS vaccination

TOOLBOX, Issue 19: An interview with
Jose Angulo, DVM,
PRRS Specialist,
Managing Veterinarian,
Zoetis 

Pork industry makes progress on pain management

Pain management for pigs has always been a challenge, partly because it’s difficult to measure levels of pain and partly because there are no FDA-approved drugs labeled for pain management in pigs.

Can the processing-fluid toolbox expand beyond PRRS?

Piglet processing fluids have been shown to be a practical, time-efficient and affordable diagnostic tool for PRRS, and some indications suggest that PCV2 offers promise as well.

Take a process-driven approach to influenza control

US pork producers should strive to produce influenza-negative pigs if they want to see the benefits of increased productivity, reduced secondary infections and antibiotic use, reduced influenza dissemination, decreased influenza diversity and reduced risk of zoonotic infections.

Committing time, attention to pig’s first 24 hours key to health, uniformity

The farrowing room is a demanding place — one that needs to accommodate the divergent needs of a 500+-pound sow and her 10, 15 or 20 piglets weighing anywhere from 1.5 to 3 pounds.

COVID-19 impact on swine industry headlines 2020 virtual Leman Conference

COVID-19’s global-altering tentacles reached the 2020 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference scheduled Sept. 19-22. This year’s conference will be held virtually.

Researchers ‘look beyond the normal’ to identify emerging disease

The first case of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (Strep. zoo) was identified in the US pig population last fall, and it’s not an organism to be taken lightly.

Addressing ‘unknown factors’ in sow mortality

Sow mortality has been on the rise in the US pork industry, reaching upwards of 15% in many sow-production systems, said Ashley Johnson, DVM, technical services veterinarian with Zoetis.

Rate of PCV2 recombination not widely recognized

TOOLBOX, Issue 16: An interview with Meggan Bandrick, DVM, PhD Associate Director, Global Biologics Research, Zoetis

Swine Health Information Center: Preparing for emerging diseases

Whether the issue is an emerging disease such as porcine epidemic diarrhea or the threat of African swine fever, being prepared is key to minimizing the potential impact on the US swine herd and expediting the recovery.

Veterinarians, mind your mental health

Veterinarians deal with stress under the best circumstances. But in this time of difficult decisions for pork producers and those who service them due to COVID-19, maintaining mental health is even more of a concern.

Pen-side diagnostic comparisons for nursed-off sows and fallback pigs

For both the sow and piglet, an animal that does not perform to its potential or falls behind its counterparts will negatively impact the sow farm’s productivity and profitability.

Vaccine trial data versus lineage: What’s the best way to predict PRRS vaccine performance?

TOOLBOX, Issue 20: An interview with Eva Jablonski, DVM, PRRS Specialist, Senior Technical Services Veterinarian, Zoetis

Antimicrobial resistance causing few clinical problems in swine

Clinical problems in swine due to antimicrobial-resistant infections are rare. In fact, patterns of resistance in swine have been stable for a long time.

Comparing diagnostic sampling prospects from M. hyo-positive-source boar studs

Many sow farms have undergone M. hyo elimination within their breeding herd, which makes it critical to understand the potential transmission risk from boar studs.

Watch your Strep: Keep your guard up for this evolving bacterium

Few things remain the same for long on a hog farm. By the very nature of today’s production system, pigs are continuously moving on or off a site. One thing that remains constant is Strep suis.

Processing fluids provide an option to monitor PCV2 and PCVAD

Effective PCV2 control relies on vaccination of healthy pigs before they become infected. This goal cannot be accomplished in unstable herds whose sows give birth to viremic pigs.

Comparing PCV2 gilt vaccination protocols and progeny status

Porcine circovirus type 2 is the principal etiological agent of porcine circovirus associated disease (PCVAD), which can cost producers an estimated $3 to $4 per pig.

Automatic foggers fall short in disinfecting hog-farm supplies

Preventing fomites from carrying pathogens into hog farms is a daily biosecurity priority, but how effective are typical disinfection protocols?

Gebhart: Cracking the Strep suis code

Streptococcus suis (Strep suis) is becoming more prevalent and more complex in US swine herds. The coccoid-shaped, Gram-positive bacterium is also a zoonotic disease, capable of transmission from pigs to humans.

Study compares PRRSV antibody-sampling options for sows

When it comes to porcine reproductive and respiratory virus it’s important for the veterinarian and farm personnel to know the health status of a herd or barn.

German researchers: Pigs, poultry not susceptible to COVID-19

Scientists in Germany have confirmed that pigs and chickens are not susceptible to COVID-19.

How stress hammers a pig’s intestinal system

Experts say some forms of sustained stress can weaken a pig’s immune system and make it more vulnerable to disease and performance losses.

Swine dysentery makes an unwelcome comeback

Just when US pork producers thought swine dysentery was a problem of the past, it has re-emerged for an unwelcome encore in a slightly different form.

Moving biosecurity from the farm to the feed mill

An effective biosecurity strategy is not a stagnant process. It is continuously influenced by changes in pig-flows, disease pressures, virus evolution, emerging health issues and more.

Ellis: No magic bullet to reduce pre-wean mortality

Pre-wean mortality has increased over the last 15 years, and it’s a major concern for US pork producers and veterinarians.

Outmaneuvering PRRSV requires a better understanding of genetic diversity

PRRSV is constantly evolving, resulting in an extremely diverse virus with multiple lineages, but building a better understanding of that genetic diversity is the next step to making real progress against the disease.

Deen: Apply old lessons to new technologies

Classical education emphasizes the need for industries to adopt new technologies to keep up with external demands and constantly changing economic environments.

Pollmann: Make the most of your human capital

The US pork industry is challenging under the best of circumstances, with enough variables to make even astute, savvy businesspeople cautious. However, one of the biggest components of a successful, healthy operation is human capital.

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