Swine Resources - Management

December 2021

Rising feed and other input costs – and larger industry factors – underscore the need to develop long-term strategies to ensure future profitability.

December 2021

At lower risk levels, the provision of point-source objects and other less costly but relatively effective measures can play an important role.

December 2021

The payment this grow out receives for its pigs is about 1.5 cents/kg live weight higher compared to the rest of the finishing farms of the same origin.

November 2021

Multiple drinkers provided more frequent and longer water access along with decreased aggression near the water source.

November 2021

Creep feed supplementation has no clear effect on piglet behavior and performance.

November 2021

A much higher percentage of piglets prefer milk supplement over creep feed. Here are the results of the latest studies on this subject.

November 2021

Why is it important to take sow temperatures after farrowing? How does feed intake affect litter size?

Introduction

After the sow has farrowed, the focus shifts from the sow to the piglets with the intentions of minimizing pre weaning mortality and producing quality weaned pigs. Producing heavy piglets at weaning with structural soundness and uniformity will ultimately set the pigs up for success in the following stages of their life, as they make their way to market. However, it is important to not only focus on the piglets during lactation, but the sows as well as 3 out of every 4 sows bred every week are weaned sows that left the farrowing room the week before.

Previous research and experience have demonstrated the positive effects of good animal husbandry practices and high feed intake during lactation on sow reproductive performance. Meaning, what happens in lactation affects the sow in the subsequent breeding, gestation, and lactation period. Not to mention, gestation management practices, specifically related to female body condition, can have an effect on how much feed females will consume in lactation. Thus, it is important that the different teams (breeding, gestation, and lactation) within a sow farm work together, to achieve the same goal.

The purpose of this article is:

• to highlight how litter size can be affected by feed intake
• provide ideas on how to identify low eaters
• suggest management strategies to support high feed intake while sows are in the farrowing house

September 2021

A review of the strategies used to reduce boar taint by country and the detection systems available in slaughterhouses.

June 2021

America’s door to ASF, an epic porcine disease with no vaccine or cure, could swing open via the belly of wild pigs. (Photo by Craig ONeal, Flickr, Creative Commons)

What happens when wild pigs are given 1,000 tons of groceries per day in the form of landfill trash? Expect an explosion in pig and litter size, and quite possibly, a $50 billion decimation of the entire U.S. pork industry.

June 2021

Producers struggle with keeping their pigs healthy and productive when temperatures are on the rise

Brookside Agra Vice President – Animal Health & Nutrition Sales Tim Nelson says producers should follow four fundamental tips for maintaining swine health in the summer. (Stock photo via Pascal Debrunner on Unsplash)

Heat stress can be a major cause of economic loss for swine producers during the summer months. Between the heat and humidity, diminished feed consumption, reduced gain, and of course death, producers struggle with keeping their pigs healthy and productive when temperatures are on the rise.