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Twelve Born Alive:Its not all hugs and kissesJames F. Lowe, DVM, MSThe Maschhoffs, IncCarlyle, IL, 62231www.themaschhoffs.com

30 Pigs per Sow per Year

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Why 30 PSY - Sow farm economics 101

Fixed costs over timeLabor, facilities, waste hauling, G/A$340/sow space per year

Fixed costs per sowFeed, vet med, replacements$270/ sow per year

Total cost of $610

Effect of productivity20 psy = $30.5022 psy = $27.7524 psy = $25.4026 psy = $23.5028 psy = $21.8030 psy = $20.25

1 pig is about $1.00

All $ in USD

Why 30 PSY - but I can’t handle the pigs….

Fixed space system↑pigs → change in WTM economicsso…↓ sow inventory with = pigs → ↓ cost = ↑profit

Capture sow associated cost savings = $0.44 per ↑ 1 psy

“Large US” systemSpace not fixed↑pigs = ↓ weaned pig cost↑pigs ≠ WTMeconomic change

Each pig has full margin over variable cost value

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A little math

A sow can have 2.45-2.5 litters per sow per year

30 pigs / 2.5 litter = 12 pigs/ litter

12 pigs weaned ≠ 12 born alive

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Opportunity: 30 PSY is Real!

27.225.628.27PSY (including gilts)2.322.272.36L/S/Y302929.7Lactation Length (d)

91%79%93%Farrowing Rate75.0%75.8%82.8%Survival of TB11.711.313Weaned per litter13.712.713.7Born Alive15.614.915.7Total Born5307001100Number sows

Farm CFarm BFarm AFarm

Weaned /litter 13 11.3 11.7

PSY (w/ gilts) 28.27 25.6 27.2

Danish Farm’s, Q2, 2006; JFL

OK, “I got lot o’ pigs” now what?

The real world has constraints:Labor, sows, buildings, Sunday, deer season, etc

Genetics are a big deal!Total born, total born, total bornTemperament, pig size/variation

Health is pretty important MANAGEMENT IS A BIGGER DEAL

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The TMI extra special high corporate secrets to raising pigs

We are not building rock ships here!

Its all about blocking and tackling!

Food, water and a dry place to sleep

How to WE get there?

Pig(Genetic Potential)

People(Management)

Production(Expression of

Genetic Potential)

Production Practices

Pigs responseTo its environment

Changes in behavior responding to farm output

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What happens in the real world?

Pig(Genetic Potential)

People(Management)

Production(Expression of

Genetic Potential)

Inconsistent implementation of practices

Lower than expected output

Practices are Changed on farm

Review implementationImprove consistency

Improved output

How to WE get there?

Pig(Genetic Potential)

People(Management)

Production(Expression of

Genetic Potential)

Production Practices

Pigs responseTo its environment

Changes in behavior responding to farm output

Inconsistent implementation of practices Those of us in the

room today are in the people business, we just happen to work

with pigs!

Those of us in the room today are in the people business, we just happen to work with pigs!

Keys to Success1.Provide a clear plan that focuses on

long term sustainability2.Set high expectations3.Assume there will be mistakes in

implementation, be prepared to find and fix them

4.Provide accountability though regular feedback to team members

Most business failures are NOT that the PLAN WAS BAD But that the

PLAN WAS NOT EXECUTED

“Execution”,Bossidy and Charan, 2002

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What do we talk about every day?

Don’t do more harm than good - you are not a sow, let her do her jobFeed her, feed her, feed her!!!!!!! (and don’t forget the water!)Hey that thing on the wall with the “rednumbers” and those holes in the ceiling -don’t forget them.

The Production CircleFarrowing

Breeding

Weaning

Lactation

Gestation

Protein Loss

Egg Development

Ovulation

Fetal Development

Protein Gain

Ovarian Activity

Preweaning Mortality

Stillborn Pigs

Feed Intake

Low

Low

High

High

Low

High

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Lactation Feeding Starts in Gestation

Optimum body weight at Optimum body weight at farrowing farrowing (420 lb)(420 lb)Predisposed for feed intakePredisposed for feed intake

Significant protein deposition in late gestationSignificant protein deposition in late gestation2x increase in 2x increase in conceptus conceptus growthgrowth

3x increase in mammary development3x increase in mammary development

Energy intake increase or fat is mobilizedEnergy intake increase or fat is mobilized

Protein requirement met or body tissue Protein requirement met or body tissue mobilizedmobilized

Transition from Gestation to Farrowing

Supporting Supporting OptimalOptimal Feed IntakeFeed IntakeRoom Temperature (68Room Temperature (68°° F)F)

Water Accessible ( > 0.5 gallon/ minute) Water Accessible ( > 0.5 gallon/ minute)

Multiple Feedings (twice)Multiple Feedings (twice)

Feed kept freshFeed kept fresh

OptimalOptimal Feed Intake for Feed Intake for ThreeThree Days Prior Days Prior to to FarrowingFarrowing

4 lb of feed/ day (2 lb/ feeding)4 lb of feed/ day (2 lb/ feeding)

Avoid significant catabolic stateAvoid significant catabolic state

Avoid glucose loadingAvoid glucose loading

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Effect of Lactation Feeding Frequency andvolume on Sow and Litter Performance

Treatment 1: Scaled early feeding program Treatment 1: Scaled early feeding program according to unit protocol.according to unit protocol.

Treatment 2: Sows fed four times per day to Treatment 2: Sows fed four times per day to appetite.appetite.

Treatment 3: Sows fed twice per day to appetite.Treatment 3: Sows fed twice per day to appetite.

Results – Study #1

NS2.9315.614.814.1Lactation BW loss (%)

NS6.50158.6157.5154.7Total lactation feed intake (lbs)

NS0.399.69.59.3Average daily feed intake (lbs)

NS4.5676.773.669.6Lactation BW loss (lbs)

NS4.88414.2421.3420.8BW at weaning (lbs)

NS3.57490.9494.9490.4BW at entry (lbs)

--323232No. of sows

Sig.1SEMTrt 3Trt 2Trt 1

Item

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Results – Study #1Sow average daily feed intake

02468

101214

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Treatment 1 Treatment 2 Treatment 3

Effect of Lactation Feeding Curve on Sow and Litter Performance

Treatment 1: Scaled early feeding program according to unit proTreatment 1: Scaled early feeding program according to unit protocol.tocol.

Treatment 2: Sows fed four times per day to appetite.Treatment 2: Sows fed four times per day to appetite.

Treatment 3: Sows fed according to a gradually increasing but Treatment 3: Sows fed according to a gradually increasing but restricted curve for the first ten days of lactation and then ferestricted curve for the first ten days of lactation and then fed to d to appetite for the remainder of the trial.appetite for the remainder of the trial.

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Results – Study #2Sow average daily feed intake

0

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1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17

Trt 1 Trt 2 Trt3

Conclusions

Scientific evidence does not strongly support Scientific evidence does not strongly support one lactation feeding strategy over anotherone lactation feeding strategy over another

Evidence does suggest the need to maximizing Evidence does suggest the need to maximizing lactation feed intake to reduce negative energy lactation feed intake to reduce negative energy balance in later lactation balance in later lactation

Circumstantial evidence suggest early feeding Circumstantial evidence suggest early feeding strategy is critical to later feed intake in strategy is critical to later feed intake in commercial practicecommercial practice

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Practical Realities of Over-Feeding In Early Lactation

Limit sow’s voluntary feed intake in later lactation when needs are greatest

Predisposes to MMA

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-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21Day of Lactation

Optimized lactation feeding curveFULL FEED

Gradual increase in feed intake over first 5 days to match feed intake, milk output and milk consumption

Limited feed intake prior to farrowing

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Berry (Intak) Sow Self Feeder

Results -use of self feeder

Y0.249.79.0Average daily feed intake (lbs)

N4.10164.5154.0Total lactation feed intake (lbs)

Sig.1SEMSelf feederHand fedItem

Feeder Type

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Sow feeding

Gestation management drives farrowing performance

Sow body condition adjustment is critical!More is not better!Get a system, get it in place and “trust but verify”

Body Condition Management

Body condition changes (metabolic state) influence the productivity of sows

Body condition management is included in one of the eight factors for achieving a 90% farrowing rate1.

Animal welfare implicationsSow retention in the herd

Voluntary vs. involuntary cullingImprove feed efficiency

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Body Condition can be managed systematically!

Have to have buy-in to be successful

No quick fixes“Set it and forget it”

But…What are the challenges for success?

Why aren’t we optimizing body condition today?

Lack of system-wide protocols for managing sow body conditionBody condition management is not always a high priority.There is a lack of basic understanding of the sows nutritional needsThere is a lack of objective body condition data

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1 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 5P2 >10 mmP2 >10 mm P2 11P2 11-- 15 mm15 mm P2 16P2 16--18 mm18 mm P2 19P2 19-- 22 mm22 mm P2 < 22 mmP2 < 22 mm

FATFATTHINTHIN NORMAL 2.5NORMAL 2.5--3.53.5

1.0 1.5 2.0 4.03.0 3.5

Breeding Farrowing

Optimum: 3 – 3.25

1 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 5

FATFATTHINTHINIDEAL IDEAL

3.0 3.0 -- 3.253.25

Breeding Farrowing

EXAMPLE - Gestation Feeding ScheduleFirst 5 days (minimum) post mating – 2.25 pounds 2X/day regardless of parity and condition

Adjustment by Body Condition – week post mating, 30 and 60 days bred

90 Days Bred: BCS<3 Add 1.5 pounds to feeder settingBCS>3.5 No adjustment needed

P ≥ 6

P2-5P1P0

+10+10+1010

109.258.57.75

7.256.755.75

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76.255.54.75

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Is 6 pounds really 6 pounds?Weigh gestation feedboxes!Correlate box setting to actual pounds delivered

Bible 3 Actual Feed Delivered vs Settings

y = 0.767x + 0.402R2 = 0.9795

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Feed Box Setting

Act

ual

Po

un

ds

Del

iver

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Actual vs Expected Feed Delivery

Box delivers what it is set at

Reality

Difference of 0.3 lbs

Difference of 1.3 lbs

TAKE HOME:Precise feeding requires that

each type of feeder be weighed at all possible feeding levels to

insure that the correct amount of feed is delivered

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TMI Body Condition System

SCORE AND RECORD all sow’s BCS at Weaning, 30 days, 60 days and Farrowing

Weigh feed boxes and develop STANDARD FEEDING CHART for each farmAdjust feeders ACCORDING TO PARITY AND BCS at day:

7, 30 and 60 of gestationMonthly Audits of Farm Progress (TMI Staff)

Score sows at the key intervalsTrack BCS loss though lactation (BCS entry vs. exit)

1 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 5

FATFATTHINTHINIDEAL IDEAL

3.0 3.0 -- 3.253.25

Breeding Farrowing

EXAMPLE - Gestation Feeding ScheduleFirst 5 days (minimum) post mating – 2.25 pounds 2X/day regardless of parity and condition

Adjustment by Body Condition – week post mating, 30 and 60 days bred

90 Days Bred: BCS<3 Add 1.5 pounds to feeder settingBCS>3.5 No adjustment needed

P ≥ 6

P2-5P1P0

+10+10+1010

109.258.57.75

7.256.755.75

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76.255.54.75

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Does it work???

BCS1 BCS2 BCS3

0.000.250.500.751.001.251.501.752.002.252.502.753.003.253.503.754.004.254.504.755.00

Borgic BCS - Weaned sows

BCS

Sampling PeriodBCS1 = Weaning, BCS2 = 30 days, BCS3 = 60 days of gestation

Weaning 30 days 60 days

No active BCS Management

TMI SystemImplemented

Period 1 Period 2

1. 75% of sows <= BCS 32. 50% 2.75 to 3.03. No sows over 3.25

1. 75% of sows >= BCS 3

2. 50% 3.0 to 3.253. No sows over

3.5

1. 75% of sows <= BCS 3.0

2. 50% of sows between 2.5 and 3.0

3. Range of 1.75 to 3.75

1. 75% of sows <= BCS 3.02. 50% of sows between 2.5 and

3.03. Range of 1.75 to 3.75

1. 75% of sows <= BCS 32. 50% 2.75 to 3.03. No sows over 3.25

TAKE HOME:Body Condition can be SYSTEMATICLLY managed though routine tracking of BCS and utilizing that information along with sow parity to determine the amount of feed to deliver daily.

Optimizing Long Term Productivity of Sow Farms

Retention of young sows

Optimize lactation length

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Retention of Sows to P2

0.0%2.0%4.0%6.0%8.0%

10.0%12.0%14.0%16.0%18.0%20.0%22.0%24.0%

0 1 2 3 4

Parity

Perc

ent o

f Inv

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emov

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0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

100.0%

120.0%

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7+

Parity

Perc

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f Inv

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emov

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Farm AFarm B0.0%

2.0%4.0%6.0%8.0%

10.0%12.0%14.0%16.0%18.0%20.0%22.0%24.0%

0 1 2 3 4

Parity

Perc

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f Inv

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emov

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Parity 2-4 are almost 2x!

1.211.19.9

PWM

3.810.16.3SB

1.310.011.3PW

12.77+0.8Diff.

13.52-5TBParity

Keeping them in the herd

BODY CONDTION management to minimize involuntary culling

Optimize lactation feed intake – INTAK feedersImplement gilt management plans

Estrus stimulation, Culling with no heat at 30 days, Minimize use of PG600

Food, WATER and a DRY PLACE to sleepDaily water availabilityPhysical facility management

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Optimization of Lactation Length

Part of long term strategy to increase system robustness Minimum weaning age of 21 days

Increased TB in subsequent litters – 0.1 pigs per day increased LLRetention of P1 sowsPerformance of Pigs in WTF system

Letting the sow do the workWarming pigs after birth

Split milkings with survivability boxes

Limited fostering

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Warming pigs after birthPigs can be come chilled, starve and die all in the same dayGetting pigs warmed gives them a head start

When pigs are born they have a temperature of 102F. After

farrowing, this temp can drop 4 degrees. It can take 4 days to get

back to normal.

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Management tipsSurvivability boxesTowels

Split SucklingTechnique which can reduce variation and decrease the amount of pigs in the less viable categorySeparate the larger pigs within 12 hours after birth.

Little pigs can suckle for 1-2 hours without competition.

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BenefitsReduces variation

55% reduction in pigs weighing less than 8 lbs at weaning

Gives smaller pigs a chance to get colostrum

Management tipsGreatest economic benefit from litter sizes >9Separate pigs off for no more than 2 hours

prevent low blood sugar

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Limiting fostering techniquesValuable tool !!! - THIS IS THE TICKETGoal is to keep as many pigs on the birth sow as possible

Limiting fostering techniquesContinuous crossfostering can depress growth rate by 20% and reduce variation by 40% yielding a “highly uniform group of small pigs (Straw 1998.”

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Management tipsLimit cross fostering to the first 12 hoursPrior to farrowing, count the number of functionalteats on each sowAt birth place number of pigs on sow equal to teats by removing all pigs from some sowsUse the “empty sows” for fallback pigsDO NOT replace pigs on litters!

Bump Weaning TipsJUST SAY NO to bump weaning!!

Use weaned sows if late nurse sows are needed; they can handle 5 day old pigs

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How do we get it done?

Nothing new here

Daily priorities and organization

The little things

What have we talked about?

If we want to be competitive in a world market, highly efficient farms are necessaryHigh PSY = High Born Alive = change in managementManagement = BLOCK AND TACKLE

Sow body conditionLactation feedingGet pigs warmDon’t move pigs

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Thank you

Questions?