Breeding Sow Management

The process of choosing the best animals for breeding

Selection

ØAn important factor in starting a pig farm

Selection

Give characteristics on physical selection

Strong legs

long body

good body conformation

give characteristics for bases of selection under performance

Mothering ability

average daily gain

backfat thickness

give atleast 3 pointers in selecting replacement gilts

ØGood temperament and smooth in general appearance

ØAt least 6 pairs of prominent and well spaced teats

ØRelatively long body to accommodate suckling pigs

ØStrong legs and pastern

ØStrong, straight or slightly arched but not too broad back

ØWith backfat of about 2cm at 90 kg

The outcome of all activities undertaken by an entity to preclude the introduction of disease agents into an area that one is trying to protect

Biosecurity

The adjustment of newly arrived pigs to the conditions prevailing in the farm to enable them to perform to optimum standards

Acclimatization

Limits the freedom of movement or action of animal who is infected (or is reasonably suspected of being infected) with a communicable disease or condition.

Ø

Isolation

Limits the freedom of movement or action of animal who has been exposed (or is reasonably suspected of having been exposed) to a communicable disease or condition

Quarantine

It enables observation, testing and vaccination of newly acquired animals to reduce the risk of having diseases from external pathogens.

Isolation and quarantine

Isolation facility

at least 3k away from other pigs

300 m is suggested minimum

totally enclosed

all in all out pig flow

cleaning and disinfection with a break time of 7 days

30 days minimum quarantine and 60 days for enzootic pneumonia

Reduction of risk from potential worker pathogen transfer

ØShowering equipment's

ØIsolation unit- dedicated clothing

ØDis-infection procedures

ØFoot bath

Testing semen of boars and embryos of sows

parvovirus

prrs virus

brucella

aujeszky’s disease

classical swine fever

= shift toward younger females, less productive and with an increase in nonproductive sow days

high sow turnover

requires larger replacement gilt pools, which will increase disease risks and the cost of production

high removal rate

higher proportion of older sows, more prone to certain diseases and lower production levels

excessively low removal rate

what is the formula for removal rate

#of animals removed from the herd during a year, divided by the average inventory, and multiplied by 100

recommended removal rate

39-40%

recommended culling rate

35-36%

recommended death rate

3-5%

Reasons for removing sows

reproductive failure

old age

inadequate performance

locomotor problems

death

milking problems

Refers to culling for old age, inadequate performance, poor progeny and milking for which the farmer makes the decision of removal.

Voluntary of planned removal

refers to other causes such as locomotor and reproductive problems, for which the producer does not have as much control

voluntary or unplanned removal

list down major reproductive problems

failure to conceive

failure to maintain pregnancy

failure to farrow after a successful mating

average parity at culling

7-9

economic optimal herd life for average producing sows

10 parities

give some locomotor problems

Osteochondrosis

Osteoarthrosis

Osteomalacia

Arthritis

leg weakness

posterior paralysis

foot rot

foot and leg injuries,

fracture

List some milking problems

mastitis

agalactia

low milk production

poor mothering abilities

major causes of natural death in sows

abdominal organs

heart failure

cystitis- pyelonephritis

most frequent causes for euthanasia

locomotion and leg related problems

body condition of sow where the sow is visually thin, with hips and backbone very prominent and no fat cover over hips and backbone.

condition score 1

body condition score for sows where the hip bones and backbone are easily felt without any pressure on the palm

condition score 2

body condition scores for sows where it takes firm pressure with the palm to feel the hip bones and backbone.

condition score 3

body condition scores for sow where it is impossible to feel the bones even with pressure on the palm of the hands

condition score 4

body condition score for sow where the sow is carrying so much fat that it is impossible to feel the hip bones and backbone even pushing down with a single finger.

condition score 5

when the animal is neither gaining nor losing weight; and does not work, produce product, store fat, and develop fetus

maintenance

Øwhen tissue synthesis (muscle, bone, organ, and some fats) takes place in the young animal.

growth

when increase fat deposition becomes desirable (finishing)

fattening

when there is an increased need for nutrients for ova/sperm production or for fetal development in the gestating female

reproduction

when the dam requires extra nutrients to sustain production of milk for her litter without sacrificing her own body reserves

lactation

chemical elements or compounds that are required in the diet to permit normal functioning of the life processes

nutrients

what are the 6 nutrients

water

carbs

proteins

minerals

vitamins

lipids

these are carbohydrates, fats, and proteins

energy nutrients

nutrients for tissue building maintenance and repair

proteins, minerals, and water

nutrients for regulation of metabolic body processes

water, proteins, fats, mineral, vitamins

It serves as the major component of the body’s metabolism and is required for body temperature control

water

All the biochemical reactions that take place in an animal require

this

water

It is an excellent source of energy (carbohydrates

corn

has a high percentage of sugars and starches

corn

make up the largest part of feed for swine

carbohydrates

It is an excellent protein source

soybean meal

is the most widely used high quality protein meal for balancing hog rations.

soybean meal

are only needed in small amounts in swine diets but are very important for growth and reproduction.

minerals

required for structural components of the pig

calcium and phosphorus

functions of the inorganic elements

structural

regulation of metabolic processes

Confined pigs demand dietary mineral supplements to avoid deficiencies and disruption of vital processes

Deficiency in any of these will decrease energy delivery to energy-requiring body systems.

vitamins

are commonly added to swine diets to improve the weight gains, feed conversion efficiency, and reproduction

antimicrobial agents