103. Reproductive management at the pig farm. Flashcards
Reproductive Management at the pig farm list?
Proper rearing of breeding gilts
Proper regrouping of gilts
Searching for gilts in heating, oestrous synchronization
AI with “on farm” or purchased semen
After breeding
Farrowing
weaning
rearing
AI of sows
Proper Rearing of breeding Gilts?
Proper rearing of breeding gilts
Feeding
• Gilts are leaner, mature earlier and start their breeding lives with less body reserves. We aim to have gilts ready
to mate weighing 120-130kg at around 28 weeks of age - they should be in good condition but not overweight
• It may be necessary to formulate a special feeding program to build up the fat cover to the desired level. If not
achieved, her fat cover becomes decreased over pregnancies, resulting in the ‘thin sow syndrome’ and her
subsequent breakdown
Flushing
• It is important that the gilt has at least two true heat periods before mating, to gain the increase in ovulation
rate. For gilts, the ovulation rate can be further increased by a high energy intake for 10–14 days prior to service.
This should be reduced for the first 3 days after mating.
Proper regrouping of gilts?
Proper regrouping of gilts
• Selected gilts should be housed in groups in the breeder shed to allowed time for them to build up
immunities to anything that could be present in the breeding herd before mating.
• It is very important to quarantine and acclimatise purchased gilts on farm for 6-7 weeks. vaccination for
diseases like E. coli, leptospirosis, mycoplasma and parvovirus should be undertaken before the gilt is mated
After breeding tasks in days?
After breeding
• Day 100-109
o Treat for lice and mange
o Deworm (fenbendazole, levamisole
• Day 109
o Move clean sow/gilt into farrowing crate
o Feed 2-3bs laxative farrowing ration
• Day 113-116
o Increase the observation of sow/gilt
o Check for presence of milk
o Assist with farrowing
Farrowing?
Farrowing
- Giving birth (parturition)
- Gestation length is 114 days
- Day 1
o Limit sow/gilt feed intake to 1.5-2kg
• Day 1-2
o Check udders for sign of lactation failure or mastitis
o Equalise litters by transferring pigs of same age into smaller litters
• Day 2-7
o Gradually increased feed intake by 1kg/day as the sow/gilt continuous to increase intake
o Check sow/gilt appetite, rectal temperature, constipation and milk flow
o Observe nursing of piglets
Weaning?
Weaning
• Any time after 14 days of age
o Traditional 8weeks old
o Recent 4 weeks old
o Segregated early weaning 2 weeks old
• 4 weeks weaning is the most popular
o Development of the digestive system
o Immunity of the pig
§ Sufficient at 4 weeks old
o Milk production of the sow
§ Normally peaks at 2-4 weeks
o Labour
§ Early weaning requires highly competent staff
o Feed cost
- May smaller farms wean pigs after 28 days of age
- Pigs can be successfully weaned up to 6 weeks of age
- Reduce feed intake to 2-3kg
o Except in extremely thin sows/gilts
• Deworm and treat for lice and mange
Rearing?
Rearing
• 3 phases
o First 10 days after weaning
o 11th day after weaning until the weight is approximately 16kg
o From 16kg onwards until the end of the rearing phase
§ Around 28-30kg live weight
AI of multiparous sows?
AI of multiparous sows
• Fixed time AI prepared professionally will ensure high fertilization rate, overall optimization of reproductive
performance in industrial pig production
