Goal setting for 2021
With all that has happened in 2020, it will be good to look forward to 2021. As we approach the end of the year, it is a good idea to review the production records for the year and set goals for 2021.
- Review the production parameters with the farm staff, breaking it down and looking at monthly numbers to look for trends.
- Compare with the previous year’s production goals to see how well the farm performed against those former goals.
- Breaking it down into quarterly periods will help you to see the goals unfold rather than waiting until the end to see how things turned out.
- Pick parameters where you can make a difference, then provide an action plan for how you will reach these goals. Each farm should have their own unique action plan to turn those goals into reality.
- Put some stretch into the new goals. Just setting a number you can easily achieve defeats the purpose.
- Make sure all goals align together as certain numbers are tied together.
- Total born, stillborn and mummy percentage is an example of this. These values will drive what born alive will be.
- Once you have calculated the born alive number, you can determine the prewean mortality goal and from there, the wean number.
- The number of sows farrowed per week/group will drive how many total pigs weaned for the year.
- Then you can work to get the Pigs/sow/year by dividing the total weaned pigs by average sow inventory.
Meaningful goals are those that will challenge the system but are yet obtainable. It is good to take the time, set the numbers and have them documented as a point in reference. Breaking these numbers down into quarterly assessment timeframes allows you to go through the year and makes it more likely to be attainable at the end.
COVID 19
After battling with it for months now, we are certainly ready for COVID 19 to just be over and done. The vaccine companies appear to be making huge strides in having effective vaccines. The initial work looks very good and 3 companies are reporting success. Yet, it will be a while before these vaccines will be available to everyone.
As we’ve learned from pig viruses, there will be more challenges as we go into winter months. The following are some tips to help keep everyone safe.
- Keep office surfaces free from clutter helps make the numerous daily cleanups and disinfection possible
- Stagger break times so entire crew isn’t in the break room at once
Say “Yes Please” to Pork this Holiday
Don’t let COVID stand in the way of preparing magnificent meals and snacks featuring pork this holiday. The Pork Board has put together hundreds of delicious recipe ideas for you to try. They all look so good, you’ll have a hard time deciding which to try first!
https://www.yummly.com/page/pork
Wondering what to give people during this time of social distancing? Pork gift certificates travel great and with them, the recipient can purchase whatever pork product they choose. (507) 345-8814 is the number to call.
The veterinarians at Swine Vet Center are in a unique position and know where to find the best pork products around. If you’re looking to give the gift of pork to friends and neighbors, our clients have mouth-watering pork specialties available which can be sent straight to their door or yours! Visit one of these pages, or give a call . We’re certain you will discover something delicious.
Reicks View Farms: (800) 461- 4044 www.reicksviewfarms.com
Compart Family Farms: (877) 441-2627 www.compartduroc.com
Tollefson Family Pork: www.tollefsonfamilypork.com
Swine Disease Reporting System
The Iowa State Disease Reporting System gathers and organizes information from diagnostic labs across the midwest. Iowa State University, University of Minnesota, Kansas State University and South Dakota State University are the universities that are participating in this project. The idea behind this program is to better understand what is trending across swine herds by looking at the diagnostic data. This information can help predict diseases that are occurring in the industry on a wider basis and not just their own herd or system. The goals are to generate more knowledge to allow for better outcomes.
Some of the data shared at the ISU James D. McKean conference looked at the relationship between the increased incidence of PRRS positive samples and the stage of production, particularly wean to market vs. the adult sow farms. If you reference the chart below, you can see the number of positive wean to market animals goes up, starting in August or September. An increase in positive sow farm numbers follows 1-2 months later.
One of the nice things with the data being done as a greater regional basis is that we can look at trends by state as well. The following chart shows the regional distribution of positive samples in the month of October and where the activity is happening.
As we get more activity in the wean to finish pigs, the pigs can become the source for the sow farms to sero-convert and break. The time frame fits with what we have seen in the Morrison Swine Health Monitoring project, showing the peak of the epidemic is usually in the mid-October to mid-November time frame. This would be consistent with the diagnostic data and helps to predict what will happen.
Both the Morrison Swine Health Monitoring project and the Iowa State Disease Reporting system are pointing towards increased PRRS activity in the wean to finish, wean to market and sow herds. It’s important all the farms are following biosecurity procedures and vaccinating so that it can help mitigate the challenges.
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