Production Tips Production Tips What We Have SeenWhat We Have Seen

Marty Misener, DVMMarty Misener, DVMKevin J. Vilaca, B.Sc., M.Sc., DVMKevin J. Vilaca, B.Sc., M.Sc., DVM

South West Ontario Veterinary South West Ontario Veterinary ServicesServices

Get Back to the BasicsGet Back to the Basics

Keep it simpleKeep it simple

There is more than one way to do the There is more than one way to do the same thing.same thing.

Do things for a reason not just because we Do things for a reason not just because we have always done ithave always done it

Check your egos at the doorCheck your egos at the door

StockmanshipStockmanshipThis is an old word that is not used as much as it This is an old word that is not used as much as it used to be but is vital to pig production. used to be but is vital to pig production. Simply put, it is your knowledge and Simply put, it is your knowledge and understanding of pigsunderstanding of pigsIt is obtained by two waysIt is obtained by two ways– Knowledge (learned or acquired from hands Knowledge (learned or acquired from hands

on)on)– Experience (time put in and hands on)Experience (time put in and hands on)Every one of you has it so don’t underestimate Every one of you has it so don’t underestimate your abilitiesyour abilities– Protocols are important and necessary but Protocols are important and necessary but

Stockmanship is vital to working successfully Stockmanship is vital to working successfully with pigs.with pigs.

Herd Performance - SimpleHerd Performance - Simple

What you do for your sowsWhat you do for your sows– Get them pregnantGet them pregnant– Keep them healthy and well fedKeep them healthy and well fed

What you do for pigletsWhat you do for piglets– Control Pre-weaning mortalityControl Pre-weaning mortality– Get good pigs weanedGet good pigs weaned

The Importance of The Importance of Good SemenGood Semen

SemenSemenSemen drives production in sow herdSemen drives production in sow herd

Dealing with delicate cargo from beginning Dealing with delicate cargo from beginning to endto end

Lots of checks in place but also lots of Lots of checks in place but also lots of places for errorsplaces for errors– CollectionCollection– Processing (extending)Processing (extending)– Number of viable spermNumber of viable sperm– TransportationTransportation– HandlingHandling– Temperature/Storage etc. Temperature/Storage etc.

What does an Extender doWhat does an Extender do

It is a bit more complicated than this, BUTIt is a bit more complicated than this, BUT– It dilutes out the raw semenIt dilutes out the raw semen– It slows down the semen metabolismIt slows down the semen metabolism– It puts it to sleepIt puts it to sleep– It is not stoppedIt is not stopped– Survive for longerSurvive for longer– Withstand cold tempsWithstand cold temps

How long to I use semen?How long to I use semen?

Semen is never better than when it is Semen is never better than when it is EjaculatedEjaculatedIt is downhill from that momentIt is downhill from that momentExtenders are great …… but don’t depend Extenders are great …… but don’t depend on thison thisSemen is NOT used if it is older than 4 Semen is NOT used if it is older than 4 daysdays3 times a week delivery means very little 3 times a week delivery means very little semen should be thrown out semen should be thrown out Marathon runnerMarathon runner

TemperatureTemperatureSemen Storage is vital and often overlooked Semen Storage is vital and often overlooked (Semen Fridges or coolers)(Semen Fridges or coolers)

Ideal is 16C +/- 2C (14C to 18C)Ideal is 16C +/- 2C (14C to 18C)

Fluctuations are damagingFluctuations are damaging

Warm increases metabolism (energy)Warm increases metabolism (energy)

Cold Damages semen structure (cold shock)Cold Damages semen structure (cold shock)

Dr. Beth Young – University of GuelphDr. Beth Young – University of Guelph40% of on farm semen storage fell outside of ideal 40% of on farm semen storage fell outside of ideal

rangesranges

AVG Temp:18.3AVG Temp:18.3Max:18.7Max:18.7Min:17.9Min:17.9

Spread:0.8Spread:0.8

AVG Temp:18AVG Temp:18Max:19Max:19Min:17Min:17

Spread:2Spread:2

AVG Temp: 17AVG Temp: 17Max:18Max:18Min:17Min:17

Spread:1Spread:1

AVG temp:14.5AVG temp:14.5Max:15Max:15Min:12Min:12

Spread: 3Spread: 3

AVG Temp:16AVG Temp:16Max:23Max:23Min:4Min:4

Spread:19Spread:19

What does it mean to You!What does it mean to You!

Old semen costs you. 4 days or less!Old semen costs you. 4 days or less!

Poor or stressed semenPoor or stressed semen– Reduced farrowing rateReduced farrowing rate– Reduced litter sizeReduced litter size

You Get paid for pigs weaned – Can you You Get paid for pigs weaned – Can you afford to not have the best semen?afford to not have the best semen?

Pre-Weaning MortalityPre-Weaning Mortality

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April

Why?Why?

Preweaning mortalityPreweaning mortality– Farm 1 – 1500 sows : 11.2%Farm 1 – 1500 sows : 11.2%– Farm 2 – 600 sows : 13.3%Farm 2 – 600 sows : 13.3%

Cost (Sept-Apr)Cost (Sept-Apr)– Farm 1: 24,576 piglet born aliveFarm 1: 24,576 piglet born alive

Drop to 10% is 296 pigs at $33 =$9,768Drop to 10% is 296 pigs at $33 =$9,768

– Farm 2: 10,983 pigs born aliveFarm 2: 10,983 pigs born aliveDrop to 10% is 362 pigs at $33 = $11,960Drop to 10% is 362 pigs at $33 = $11,960

Farrowing Room BasicsFarrowing Room Basics

SanitationSanitation

Why is it Important?Why is it Important?– Give pigs a fresh startGive pigs a fresh start

– Neonatal piglets have immature Neonatal piglets have immature immune systemimmune system

– Piglet have limited number of Piglet have limited number of antibodies from mom’s milk– don’t antibodies from mom’s milk– don’t use them up use them up

– Reduce Environmental LoadReduce Environmental Load

– Don’t carry over problems from Don’t carry over problems from previous batchesprevious batches

Pre-FarrowingPre-Farrowing

Sows come in 3 days before due dateSows come in 3 days before due date– The earlier the more accustomed they areThe earlier the more accustomed they are

Room/floor set to proper tempRoom/floor set to proper temp– Heat lamps turned on day before due and Heat lamps turned on day before due and

moved to over heat pad as soon as moved to over heat pad as soon as farrowing finished.farrowing finished.

Accurate and up to date sow cardAccurate and up to date sow card– Need to record all births, deaths, fosters, Need to record all births, deaths, fosters,

treatments (sow and piglet) treatments (sow and piglet)

Drying agent should be placed on all Drying agent should be placed on all heat pads two days before due dateheat pads two days before due date

Assisting SowsAssisting Sows

You have to be present in order to You have to be present in order to know if they need your help!!know if they need your help!!

Risks in AssistingRisks in Assisting1) Will always introduce bacteria into 1) Will always introduce bacteria into

uterus no mater how careful you areuterus no mater how careful you are

2) Can cause direct physical damage to 2) Can cause direct physical damage to internal organsinternal organs

When to AssistWhen to Assist1)1) More than 20 min from last pigMore than 20 min from last pig2)2) Vigorously rub udder – give another 10 Vigorously rub udder – give another 10

min (natural oxytocin)min (natural oxytocin)3)3) If still nothing then do internal examIf still nothing then do internal exam4)4) Pull any pigs withinin reach and give Pull any pigs withinin reach and give

oxytocinoxytocin

If sow is having strong contractions and is If sow is having strong contractions and is in distress then internal is neededin distress then internal is needed

No protocol should replace stockmanship – No protocol should replace stockmanship – you know pigs!you know pigs!

Internal ExamsInternal Exams

Should NOT be done on all sows!!!Should NOT be done on all sows!!!

Person should have small armPerson should have small arm

Should always have a glove on and uses Should always have a glove on and uses lubelube– Bacteria and physical damageBacteria and physical damage

Go in slowly and if sow contracts, STOP Go in slowly and if sow contracts, STOP – Never fight against itNever fight against it

Arm used should be the down armArm used should be the down arm

Oxytocin UseOxytocin Use

Is a tool not a crutch!Is a tool not a crutch!– Gross misuse in industryGross misuse in industry

Most are over usedMost are over used– ½ to ¾ cc in Vulva or 1-2 cc in neck½ to ¾ cc in Vulva or 1-2 cc in neck

Lose more piglets than you save Lose more piglets than you save – traffic jam – placental detachmenttraffic jam – placental detachment

Colostrum lossColostrum loss– In the pit not the pigletIn the pit not the piglet

Oxytocin sales Oct 05-Sept 06 (Probst Millar Oxytocin sales Oct 05-Sept 06 (Probst Millar 20072007))

FarmFarm #bottles #bottles orderedordered

SowSowss

CC/Sow CC/Sow farrowedfarrowed

SB SB raterate

PWMPWM

AA 672672 64006400 4.344.34 4.84.8 9.69.6

BB 180180 12501250 5.955.95 5.65.6 6.76.7

CC 180180 26002600 2.862.86 6.56.5 10.510.5

DD 156156 64006400 1.011.01 3.73.7 8.18.1

EE 120120 23002300 2.162.16 4.64.6 12.112.1

FF 144144 58005800 1.031.03 5.65.6 8.38.3

GG 148148 25002500 2.452.45 3.23.2 8.58.5

HH 984984 64006400 6.356.35 6.86.8 1212

II 194194 58005800 1.381.38 3.93.9 10.510.5

Colostrum – Liquid GOLDColostrum – Liquid GOLD

Colostrum (packed with antibodies)Colostrum (packed with antibodies)– First milk sow produces after birthFirst milk sow produces after birth– Only there for first 24 hrsOnly there for first 24 hrs– Different to “normal” milk (after 24hrs)Different to “normal” milk (after 24hrs)– Filled with Antibodies (Strep, Glassers etc.) Filled with Antibodies (Strep, Glassers etc.)

and energy (keep pig warm)and energy (keep pig warm)– Starts being made 2-3 weeks pre-farrowStarts being made 2-3 weeks pre-farrow

Post-FarrowingPost-FarrowingEuthanize any pigs that are not going to Euthanize any pigs that are not going to make a pig make a pig (800g or less 50% die) (800g or less 50% die)

Cross fostering limited to first 24 hrsCross fostering limited to first 24 hrs– Colostrum intakeColostrum intake– Teat order and locationTeat order and location

At feeding time make sure all sows get At feeding time make sure all sows get up. up. – If not then get them up. If not then get them up. – Check to see why they did not want to get Check to see why they did not want to get

up. up.

Post-Farrowing Cont…Post-Farrowing Cont…

Check sow temperature if off feed or Check sow temperature if off feed or looking sick (greater than 40 looking sick (greater than 40 ooC or 104 C or 104 ooF - real temperature)F - real temperature)

Look at piglets behaviorLook at piglets behavior– Hungry – always under mom’s feetHungry – always under mom’s feet– Cold/chilled – piled up under heat lampCold/chilled – piled up under heat lamp

Creep feed to piglets at end of farrowing Creep feed to piglets at end of farrowing period – energy intakeperiod – energy intake

Farrowing Behavior Farrowing Behavior Piglet born with limited energyPiglet born with limited energy– Needs milk within 2-4 hrs (low body stores)Needs milk within 2-4 hrs (low body stores)– May take up to 1.5 hrs just to find teatMay take up to 1.5 hrs just to find teat

Piglets very prone to chilling (need heat)Piglets very prone to chilling (need heat)– Born wet – evaporative coolingBorn wet – evaporative cooling– Chilling – downward spiral and diseaseChilling – downward spiral and disease

Milk letdown is short 20-40 secondsMilk letdown is short 20-40 seconds– Mom grunts to call pigletsMom grunts to call piglets

Teat order is vital to pigletsTeat order is vital to piglets– There are differences (front is better)There are differences (front is better)

Culling Based on TeatsCulling Based on Teats

ProcessingProcessingDo best litters first – disease spreadDo best litters first – disease spread

Needles and scalpelsNeedles and scalpels– 1 per litter (can be reused but disinfected 1 per litter (can be reused but disinfected

first)first)

If you cut the skin you should be very If you cut the skin you should be very cleanclean

Clean processing cart/table regularlyClean processing cart/table regularly

No such thing as a “Silly” QuestionNo such thing as a “Silly” Question

Thank You!Thank You!

Any Questions?Any Questions?