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Published byDamian Stevens Modified over 9 years ago
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Coalface adoption of reproductive strategies. What can we learn from Australia’s Target 25 program? Paul Hughes Principal Scientist – Pigs & Poultry South Australian Research & Development Institute.
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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
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Target 25 results Trait Farrowing rate (%) Litter size (TB) T25 improvement 6.6% 0.8
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What did we learn from Target 25 ? Many herds are performing very poorly
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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
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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
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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 information Failure to pay attention to detail
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Q. Where did most Target 25 herds fail ? A. Everywhere !
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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
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Suggested Gilt Management Framework Select gilts at 22-23 weeks & 100kg+ Start daily boar contact at 25-28 weeks Mate gilts at 30-34 weeks Cull unmated gilts at 34 weeks
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2. Weaned sow management Early weaned (<19-21 days) Weaned in poor condition Underfed after weaning Housed in fenceline contact with boars Overcrowded
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3. Heat detection Inadequate facilities poor boar contact Poor technique – no BPT or BPT/no boar Use of low stimulus value boars
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4. Timing of mating/AI First mating/AI too early Repeating mating/AI every 12 hours Many late (post ovulatory) matings/AIs
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5. Boar management Under-use & occasional overuse Underfeeding Use of old boars Little checking on fertility/fecundity
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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)
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7. Gestation management Mixing & others stresses in early gestation Overfeeding & underfeeding Poor return checking – timing & boar presence Poor PDs – timing, equipment & technique
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What Causes Regular & Irregular Returns ? Mating Farrowing Day 11Day 17-19
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What Causes Regular & Irregular Returns ? Mating Farrowing Day 11Day 17-19 Am I pregnant ?
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What Causes Regular & Irregular Returns ? Mating Farrowing Day 11Day 17-19 Am I still pregnant ?
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Thank you
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