coalface adoption of reproductive strategies. what can we learn from australia’s target 25...
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Coalface adoption of reproductive strategies.
What can we learn from Australia’s Target 25 program?
Paul HughesPrincipal Scientist – Pigs & Poultry
South Australian Research & Development Institute.
What did we do in Target 25 ?
Based on a combined on-farm, off-farm team approach
Targets only one measure of herd performance
The team decides what changes will be implemented
Changes are subjected to a 6-month trial period
Final changes are locked in for 1 year
Performance change measured against pre-Target 25 level
Target 25 results
Trait
Farrowing rate (%)
Litter size (TB)
T25 improvement
6.6%
0.8
What did we learn from Target 25 ?
Many herds are performing very poorly
Target 25 start data
Farrowing rate %
Litter size (born)
SB & PWM %
Litter size weaned
Target
87+
12+
<13
10.4
Worst
58
9.6
23.9
7.7
What did we learn from Target 25 ?
Many herds are performing very poorly
What is happening at the coalface is rarely what management thinks is happening
What did we learn from Target 25 ?
Many herds are performing very poorly
What is happening at the coalface is rarely what management thinks is happening
Most of the problems are attributable to 2 issues:Lack of good informationFailure to pay attention to detail
Q. Where did most Q. Where did most Target 25 herds fail ?Target 25 herds fail ?
A. Everywhere !A. Everywhere !
1. Gilt management
• Inadequate/no use of boar stimulation
• Use of young or low stimulus value boars
• Use of Regumate on pre-pubertal & grouped gilts
• Underfeeding
• Assumed cyclicity – many pubertal matings
• Overcrowded
• Low gilt cull rates
Suggested Gilt Management Framework
Select gilts at 22-23 weeks
& 100kg+
Start dailyboar contact
at 25-28 weeks
Mate gilts at 30-34 weeks
Cull unmatedgilts at 34 weeks
2. Weaned sow management
• Early weaned (<19-21 days)
• Weaned in poor condition
• Underfed after weaning
• Housed in fenceline contact with boars
• Overcrowded
3. Heat detection
• Inadequate facilities poor boar contact
• Poor technique – no BPT or BPT/no boar
• Use of low stimulus value boars
4. Timing of mating/AI
• First mating/AI too early
• Repeating mating/AI every 12 hours
• Many late (post ovulatory) matings/AIs
5. Boar management
• Under-use & occasional overuse
• Underfeeding
• Use of old boars
• Little checking on fertility/fecundity
6. AI management
• Poor semen storage conditions – temp. & turning
• Use of old semen
• Poor boar control during AI
• Catheter removal & sow movement too early
• No record of quality of inseminator
• Inseminator fatigue (larger herds only)
7. Gestation management
• Mixing & others stresses in early gestation
• Overfeeding & underfeeding
• Poor return checking – timing & boar presence
• Poor PDs – timing, equipment & technique
What Causes Regular & Irregular Returns ?
Mating FarrowingDay 11 Day 17-19
What Causes Regular & Irregular Returns ?
Mating FarrowingDay 11 Day 17-19
Am I pregnant ?
What Causes Regular & Irregular Returns ?
Mating FarrowingDay 11 Day 17-19
Am I stillpregnant ?
Some “Rules” on Regular & Irregular Returns
• Ratio of 3:6 week returns must be more
than 4:1
• Ratio of regular:irregular returns must be
more than 3:1
Better heat detection in dry sows
<25
4%
60%
Returns profile (days after breeding)
25-38
12%
20%
39-45
29%
15%
>45
55%
5%
A profile I’ve seen
Optimal profile
•Not using boars for heat detection
•Relying on ultrasound pregnancy checks at ~4 weeks
7. Farrowing management
• No farrowing induction or night shifts
• Slow intervention with farrowing problems (25-45+ m.)
• Inappropriate use of oxytocin
• Lack of routines for assistance at farrowing
8. Lactation management
• Inadequate cleaning procedures (wet floors etc.)
• Not using shift suckling (labour)
• Little use of second heat sources
• Poor cross-fostering technique
• Sows entering farrowing house in variable condition
• Inadequate feed intakes in lactation
• Poor/variable sow condition at weaning
Target 25 - Conclusions There is great variation in performance between herds with most
Australian breeding herds performing well below their potential
Raising breeding herd performance is mainly a result of attention to known details (N.B. not always known to breeding herd staff) rather than the application of new knowledge - i.e. this isn’t rocket science
To achieve lasting performance improvements requires the real involvement of breeding herd staff:
They must gain extra knowledge They must believe the changes will work
Thank you
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