coalface adoption of reproductive strategies. what can we learn from australia’s target 25...
TRANSCRIPT
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