RED DEER — Pork producers need to aim for more kilograms of weaned pigs rather than relying on barn statistics.
“One of the things that concerns me about the current industry is we are pushing numbers,” said John Carr, an international swine specialist who spoke at the Red Deer swine technology workshop on Oct. 24.
“I want to push quality and quantity. There is little point in you giving me 16 piglets weaned when they only weigh three kilos each,” he said.
Producers need to maximize the number of pigs weaned and ensure all sow spaces are full. An empty place is 100 kilograms not weaned and that equals 1,425 kg not sold.
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“Every farrowing crate that you have empty at the moment is worth $700,” he said.
“The sow is not relevant in today’s industry. She is very cheap in reality. What matters is kilos out the door,” he said.
Barn operators need to make sure all sows are bred and produce.
When selecting gilts as replacements, Carr recommended picking healthy young females from large litters because they are probably more vigorous at birth and weaning.
Bigger litters are not always better because there is a risk of more small piglets.
“Pick pigs that don’t have scours. We are getting quite good results in knocking down preweaning mortality due to diarrhea. If there is any evidence of E. coli diarrhea, that girl is removed from the breeding pool,” he said.
Breeding females also need to be properly fed because to wean more piglets the mothers have to eat good quality food.
“If you feed more during lactation, you will get bigger weaning weights and get shorter days to service,” he said.
“If you feed more during gestation you just get more pig.”
High quality feed is essential. Pigs can smell spoiled feed and reject it.
Ensure plenty of water for each sow and piglet so they can get enough to drink and none is wasted.
Constipation is a problem among sows.
“That has a big impact on subsequent lactation and the piglets’ performance,” he said.
Hygiene at the point of farrowing is critical so piglets are not born into a pile of manure. Learn to be gentle with the sows and piglets and make sure the sows are producing enough colostrum when babies are born.
“Colostrum is liquid gold. If you want 100 kg weaned, you have got to have good colostrum,” he said.
Colostrum production comes from a program of good nutrition, proper sanitation, vaccination and making sure all the sows’ teats are functioning.
Post-mortems at day three show 40 percent of the dead piglets had nothing in their stomach. They died of neglect.
“Get the food right. Get the water right. Get the air right. Make sure the place is clean,” he said.
