Chris Hostetler Director of Animal Science National Pork Board Improving Sow Lifetime Productivity

Definition The total number of quality pigs a female weans from the time she becomes breeding eligible until she leaves the herd.

Factors Affecting Sow Lifetime Productivity Gilt development methods Gilt selection and utilization rates Sow retention Number of pigs weaned per litter Farrowing rate Sow livability Seasonal variation Litter of Origin

Litter of origin data Tissue for genotyping Male:Female Blood samples for immunocrit Number fully formed piglets born Number born alive Dam ID Parity of dam Day 1 weight of each piglet Number weaned Weaning weight of each piglet

Challenges with Sow Lifetime Productivity Not routinely assessed or monitored Not commonly available on most sow record systems Policy of culling based on parity Fallout of early parity sows

Sow Lifetime Productivity Distribution Females (%) Number of Pigs 42% of females selected for breeding have 19 or fewer pigs Adapted from Pollman – Leman Conference 2012

How big is the opportunity?

Research Goal Conduct research that will improve sow lifetime productivity by 30% by 2017 – Increase from 34 pigs/sow lifetime to 44 pigs/sow lifetime

Major Research Areas Gilt development and retention – Optimizing gilt growth and social interactions – Gilt competency Selection criteria, immune status/markers – Sow retention Strategies to minimize depletion body reserves 9

Major Research Areas Increased number of pigs weaned and piglet weaning weight – Sow lactation and gestation feed efficiency – Milk quality and quantity – Increased farrowing rate – Strategies to minimize pregnancy loss – Mitigation of the impact of seasonal infertility 10

Research Challenges Requires large scale projects in order to get meaningful results Multi-year projects to track females from day of birth through 3 rd parity SLP is multifactorial trait so requires a concerted effort Expense – no other funding agencies are working in this area

Research Consortium Industry Partners Murphy Brown LLC Holden Family Farms Carthage Veterinary Clinic USMARC Dr. Clay Lents Dr. Lea Rempel Dr. Jeremy Miles Dr. Gary Rohrer Dr. Dan Nonneman Dr. Brad Freking Dr. Bob Cushman Investigators Dr. Rob Knox Dr. Billy Flowers Dr. Nathalie Trottier Dr. Janeen Salak-Johnson Dr. Ken Stalder Dr. George Foxcroft Universities Iowa State NC State University of Illinois University Of Alberta Michigan State University

Research Projects NPB IDTitle Evaluation of a Physiological Test for Sow Longevity Development of Strategies to Improve Sow Productive Lifetime Reproductive performance and longevity in replacement gilts allowed different amounts of floor space during the nursery phase of rearing Effects of Preweaning Factors on Sow Lifetime Productivity The impact of the timing of relocation of replacement gilts from pens to stalls on gilt fertility and sow longevity Optimal dietary energy and protein for the development of gilts Dietary effects on sow productivity to three parities Impact of in utero heat stress on subsequent growth, composition and reproduction Understanding the biology of seasonal infertility to develop mitigation strategies for swine Impact of in utero heat stress on subsequent lactational performance and performance of offspring Capturing genetic potential for greater sow lifetime productivity Optimal dietary protein for the development of gilts

Effect of Neonatal Litter Size on SLP

Reproductive Performance and Neonatal Litter Size > 10 piglets( ) < 7 piglets ( ) > 10 piglets(83.3%) < 7 piglets (88.7%) Adapted from Flowers

Females remaining in production (%) E = Entry B = Breeding - gilts F = Farrowing R = Rebreeding Effect of Neonatal Lactation Litter Size on Sow Longevity F R1F2R2F3R3F4R4F5R5F6EB Production phase < 7 piglets > 10 piglets Adapted from Flowers

Effect of Birth Weight on Longevity

E = Entry B = Breeding - gilts F = Farrowing R = Rebreeding Effect of Replacement Gilt Birth Weight on Sow Longevity Adapted from Flowers

Effect of Colostrum Intake on Puberty Failure Adapted from Vallet

Effect of Nursery Floor Space on Productivity

Item Floor space allowance, ft 2 /pigGilt Birth Size SEPSML P Initial BW, lb a 5.60 b 6.92 c 0.07<0.01 Final BW, lb56.1 a 57.4 a 59.2 b 0.3< a 26.1 b 29.4 c 0.3<0.01 ADG, lb 0.94 a 0.99 a 1.01 b 0.01< a 0.45 b 0.49 c 0.01<0.01 Impact of Birth Weight and Floor Space on Growth Rate Adapted from Estienne

Item: Nursery space allowance, ft 2 /gilt Number of gilts Parity 1 Total born Born alive Born dead Parity 2 Total born a b a,b Born alive a b a,b Born dead Parity 3 Total born Born alive Born dead Parities 1 to 3 2 Total born Born alive Impact of Nursery Floor Space on Sow Productivity

Development of a Physiological Test For Sow Longevity

Sow Retention for Reduced Neonatal Litter Size (< 7 pigs) Adapted from Flowers

Sow Retention for Normal Neonatal Litter Size (< 10 pigs) Adapted from Flowers

Relocation of Gilts Post-breeding

RELwk1RELwk2RELwk3P-value n Inter estrus interval, d20.7 ± 0.3 x 22.1 ± 0.3 y 23.0 ± 0.4 y <.001 Normal inter-estrus interval of 18 to 24 d, %83.9 ± ± ± Shorter inter-estrus interval of < 18 d, %9.8 ± 1.9 x 3.2 ± 1.9 y 2.3 ± 1.9 y <.001 Longer inter-estrus interval of > 24 d, %6.4 ± 2.5 x 11.3 ± 2.6 x 19.4 ± 2.6 y <.001 No. of services1.9 ± ± wk conception rate, %89.6 ± ± ± Farrowing rate, %84.2 ± ± ± Total born/litter13.4 ± ± ± Pigs born alive/litter12.5 ± ± ± Gilts rebred within 7 d, %95.4 ± ± ± Timing of Relocation of Gilts on Performance

Key Take Aways Improvement in sow lifetime productivity will substantially impact profitability of all phases of production Litter of origin has a significant affect on sow lifetime productivity Gilt selection, development and management is one key to improving sow lifetime productivity

SLP-Related Resources Stock No.Title 04764Replacement Gilt Evaluation Pocket Guide 04822Heat Detection Poster 04969Scoring Sow Body Condition Poster 07002Seeing What You Feel Poster 04842Selection Guide Poster Set

This message funded by America’s Pork Producers and the Pork Checkoff