BPEX

Call: 01908 844368

Breeding

Improving reproductive performance

The British pig industry has clearly identified the need to improve reproductive performance as a key objective. BPEX is providing support to the industry’s efforts to improve reproductive performance in pig herds in four key areas:

  • Promoting best-practice on-farm
  • Development of an auditable quality standard for AI
  • Establishment of a reference laboratory for semen analysis
  • Promoting and using farm recording as an essential management tool

The UK breeding herd performance is significantly poorer than our close European neighbours, resulting in a higher, less competitive cost of production. The poor UK performance results from small litter sizes and reduced farrowing rates, producing fewer litters per sow per year than our competitors.

The challenge is to increase the UK born alive litter size by at least one pig per litter, and the number sold per sow per year by at least two pigs.

The BPEX AI working group is keen to ensure that useful strategies to improve reproductive performance are identified and communicated to producers. A workshop, “Setting a New Standard – Improving Reproductive Performance in Pig Herds”, was held on the 26th January 2006 at Stansted; the aim of the workshop was to “Train the Trainers”, to share the expertise and experience that already exists and to update those involved in assisting farmers to improve the reproductive performance of their herds with the latest developments.

A report on the workshop and copies of the presentations can be accessed through clicking on the links below.

 

Setting A New Standard - AI Report

WORKSHOP AT RADISSON SAS HOTEL, STANSTED THURSDAY 26TH JANUARY 2006

 

A set of Best Practice wall charts is available on request (01908 844734). The wall charts provide advice and highlight key areas for maximising reproductive performance when using AI.

For further information, advice or assistance on improving the reproductive performance of pig herds please contact Angela Cliff: angela.cliff@bpex.org.uk or call 01908 844744.