KT Update; what are we talking about - 17th May 2009
The KT team are in regular communication with English pig producers, some of the comments below are some on the concerns and advances raised in the last few weeks.
- A
recent outbreak of flu over the winter has casued concern but the herd has
recovered and performance is better than ever
- Changing
from farrowing paddocks with sows in groups of 5 (not gilts) to single
farrowing paddocks. Benefits of single paddocks for gilts is thought to be
seen with the older sows too
- Lactation
feeding problems - the nuts were crumbling. A giant sieve was fitted in the
bin to justify to the manufacturer that up to 7% of the purchased feed was
wasted in dust and clusters
- One
herd has taken the decision to decrease herd age to improve parity profile and
improve performance.
- Nursery
units with kennels for smalls have seen the benefit of warm areas and porridge
for smalls – “they pick up and do well”. This alteration has reduced incidence
of meningitis or illness in
- Don’t
forget the big milky piglets - often the bigger piglets have suckled lots of
milk and not eaten much of mum's food and can find the transition from milk to
solid food hard (smalls tend to have nibbled away and may be more adapted in
the gut system)