Program 2 Improving herd feed efficiency Prof Frank Dunshea Department of Primary Industries Victoria

Program 2 Improving herd feed efficiency Reduce Herd FCR from 4.2 to 3.6 (and beyond) Reduce Cost of Production from $2.05 to $1.50

Profit = (Revenue – COP) x volume We are proactive as well as reactive Feed costsNon-feed costs Feed costs ($/kg) Feed conversion efficiency

Pig production costs… Pigstats 2003 FCR + Feed Cost

Can we get there?… Measurement of feed intake Manipulation of feed intake - Reduced feed wastage - Movement to reactive medication - Increased carcase weight over summer - Reduced P2 over spring and autumn - Overcome post-weaning growth check $0.06 $0.04 $0.05 $0.03 $0.05

Can we get there?… Improved production efficiency and mortalities Improved reproductive performance - Reduced medication costs - Improved growth rate (10%) - Improved FCR (0.2 units) - Increased lean content (1%) - Increased lifetime productivity - Reduced seasonal infertility - Prediction of time of ovulation $0.02 $0.07 $0.08 $0.05 $0.07 $0.05 $0.03

Sub Program 2a Innovative products and strategies for the measurement of feed intake Dr Bruce Mullan Department of Agriculture Western Australia

Nutritional requirements Help to explain variability An indicator of health problems Other ….. Why measure feed intake ?

Issues Individuals vs groups Research vs commercial Feed disappearance vs feed intake Frequency of measurements Relationship to other variables

Key components Has links to other parts of the CRC Obvious relationship with FCE Ample technology available Has to be practical Has to be continuous

Strategy A number of proposals submitted Many similarities between proposals Technical workshop in early 2006 One major project envisaged Associated work to follow

Sub Program 2b Innovative products and strategies for the manipulation of feed intake (Nutrition and gastro intestinal function) Assoc. Prof John Pluske Murdoch University

Possible projects Strategies to increase performance after weaning and ensure improved whole-of-life performance, – Risk factors associated with pigs that do not eat or have reduced intake after weaning – Weaning age x diet ‘complexity’ Reducing reliance on the use antimicrobials in the pig industry, – Immunostimulants – Probiotics? – Understanding mode(s) of action – Bacterial-epithelium interactions

Possible projects Optimum levels, ratios and sources of dietary fibre and fat in diets for pigs, eg, – Role of feeding different levels/types of fat and dietary fibre on weaner and G/F performance – Role of fat type(s), fibre types and enzyme supplementation on digestibility and rate of passage Protein (amino acid) restriction and subsequent growth, eg, – Compensatory growth – Influence of birth weight – Effects on immune function

Possible projects Nutrition and feed processing to manipulate the endocrine control of feed intake before and after weaning – Stimulation of gastrointestinal hormones (gut-brain axis) – Influence on gastrointestinal and immune function – Specific intervention and effects to low birth-weight piglets?

Outcomes Increased understanding of factors (nutritional, gastrointestinal, behavioural) that influence post- weaning performance, specifically feed intake Rational approach to understanding alternatives to antibiotics, – Modes of action – Disease states Commercial application of compensatory growth

Likely projects beyond year 1 Compounds that influence the efficiency of gastrointestinal function and increase feed intake, – Enzymes – Hydrolysed products – Probiotics – Organic acids Optimising the efficacy of feed additives and commercial products (not just product testing)

Sub Program 2c Alternative therapies, products and/or strategies to improve pig production efficiency and reduce mortality of all growth phases Dr Bill Hall Australian Pork Limited

Eradication of proliferative enteropathy by vaccination and improved hygiene. Detection and typing of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae to support swine dysentery eradication. Development of a novel APP vaccine. Development of a novel Glassers vaccine Possible projects

Sub Program 2d Growth performance enhancement and Reproduction Mr. Rob Smits QAF Meat Industries

The Jigsaw of the Pork CRC Improvement of herd feed conversion efficiency More efficient performance from sow herd More efficient performance from progeny

Sub program 2d Commercial Objectives Improve the number of pigs weaned per sow mated. Identify and develop technologies that makes the mating process simpler and more successful. Improve the performance of progeny through management practices and nutrition.

Research Objectives Improved reproductive performance Sow longevity – management and nutrition to keep lean genotypes breeding longer. Investigate sow health to minimise mortality and improve fertility. Role of omega fatty acids in breeding gilts and sows to improve performance and longevity. Evaluation of protocols to synchronise oestrus and controlling time of ovulation to simplify AI

Research Objectives Advancing knowledge on reproductive physiology in sows Studying causes of embryo survival through early embryonic development, oocyte quality and inflammatory responses. Causes of foetal loss and termination of pregnancy. Nutritional/metabolic effects on oestrous resumption following weaning. Post-graduate training to continue excellence in reproductive physiology

Research Objectives Seasonal Infertility Remains an unsolved production constraint in Australia Research efforts to study seasonal infertility/heat stress will be renewed through the Pork CRC. Research will look into the mechanisms involved in seasonal infertility - heat stress, light regimens, other consistent seasonal factors on reproductive physiology in the sow. Workshop to direct R&D direction. Producer input will be valuable.

Research Objectives Improving growth performance of progeny Management strategies for gilt progeny. Omega fatty acid (and other functional lipid) supplementation during lactation and post-weaning to improve health and performance of young pigs. Optimise the ractopamine regime to increase lean tissue and decrease fat tissue deposition in finisher pigs, especially males.

Sub-program 2e. Advanced Reproductive and Genetic Technologies Assoc. Prof. Mark Nottle Dept. Of Obstetrics and Gynaecology The University of Adelaide

Projects Advanced Reproduction –Commercial development of advanced reproductive technologies Synchronisation of ovulation –One shot AI Embryo transfer Embryo freezing Cloning

Embryo transfer Commercial development of embryo transfer –Address lag in genetic gain in Australia. –Transfer of fresh and frozen embryos

Embryo freezing Commercial development of embryo freezing –Preferred method for shipping genetics between countries

Embryo freezing –current status Cameron et al / blastocyst Nagashima et al / cell piglets born/ recipients embryos transferred/ recipient stage

Embryo freezing R&D –Vitrification Method Closed straw Outcome –Commercial method for embryo freezing Import/export conservation

Cloning Importation of new genetics –Cells as opposed to embryos Conservation of genetics –Cell bank Commercially –Use of top males (and females ) at commercial level –Also reduction in variation Fewer sires

Cloning Is happening FDA about to rule on sale of meat etc from cloned animals and their progeny

Cloning R&D –Need to increase efficiency to be commercial

Cloning Outcome –Commercial method for cloning Import/export Conservation Potential to be ultimate breeding tool –Use of top sires etc at commercial level –Reduction in variation –Non surgical transfer of frozen thawed embryos

Advanced Genetics Lot happening overseas Niche projects –The genetic basis of associations between performance traits, finisher feed intake, voluntary feed intake of sows during lactation and sow lifetime reproductive performance, along with piglet performance post weaning –Development of a selection marker for placental efficiency

A selection marker for placental efficiency Ratio of fetal to placental weight Less placenta more room for fetuses –eg Meishan Highly heritable –Increase in litter size demonstrated Highly variable Male and female components

A selection marker for placental efficiency Difficult to select for –Each piglet and its placenta weighed R&D –Aim is to develop a selection marker –Biochemical, molecular or genetic –Number of candidates

A selection marker for placental efficiency Outcome –A selection marker for placenta efficiency –Increase in liveborn Reduction in –Returns, stillborns, runts –Increase in birthweight?

Profit = (Revenue – COP) x volume We are proactive as well as reactive Feed costsNon-feed costs Feed costs ($/kg) Feed conversion efficiency

Program 2 Improving herd feed efficiency Request - Please scout for new ideas as we must do something innovative not more of the same