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2TS Focus on Farrowing – March 2011
More than 300 producers attended the Two-Tonne Sow (2TS) Focus on Farrowing conferences, organised by the BPEX Knowledge Transfer team. Four technical experts joined local pig producers to discuss management of both the sow and piglet to deliver a strong litter through to weaning. The three events were held in Cirencester, Stowmarket and Wetherby on 21-23 March 2011. View all the presentations below.
Presentations:
Emma Baxter, Research Scientist Scottish Agricultural College
Stillbirths: The lost potential
Emma highlighted ‘type 2’ stillbirths, caused by asphyxiation at birth. Bigger piglets, bigger litters and slow farrowings contribute to the risk of piglets getting stuck and/or the umbilical cord being compressed. Good sow nutrition, health and farrowing environment all help to minimise the risk and, longer term, it is important to breed for optimum, rather than maximum, litter and piglet size.
Phil Baynes, Managing Director, Baynes Nutrition Ltd
Come out fighting
Phil discussed the importance of the dry sow feeding curve to ensure the optimum energy supply for sow maintenance and foetal development. He highlighted the opportunity to feed salmon oil to the sow, as a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have major benefits for piglet eye, brain and motor-neurone function. 3kg of salmon oil at just £4 provides the equivalent levels of omega-3s that 50kg of fish meal would have done at £55.
Yannig Le Treut, Commercial Director, Lallemand Animal Nutrition
Colostrum, the elixir of life
Yannig left no doubt about the importance of colosrum to the newborn piglet for its survival and development. It provides energy and immune protection as well as helping the gut mature in the first few hours of life. It is essential that the piglet has its first colostrum intake as quickly as possible as its body fat reserves are very low at birth.
Philip van den Brink, owner, SwiNco
Improved Performance =Improved Profit
Philip explained how the best Dutch pig producers achieve a combination of high numbers of piglets born and low pre-weaning mortality. Colostrum and good milk production in the first five days are the first important factors. A fit sow at farrowing is essential, so that she can easily get up and eat and drink. Additional water supply two days before and after farrowing is very important. Philip also showed where the ‘rescue deck’ system, which is just starting to be used in the UK, can be beneficial.
Producer Presentations
David Robinson, Outdoor Producer
BPEX 2TS Focus on Farrowing
Kate Ashman
Click here to download presentation
Stuart Boswoth, Indoor Producer
My Management Strategies
Anthony Williams
The Indoor Farrowing Sow
What producers said:
“Well done for organising an excellent conference at Cirencester. Everyone who helped pull this together should be very proud. An excellent turnout and a very good mixture of speakers combining technical and practical aspects.”
“It was a really good day, glad I came. It was a great afternoon.”
“We’ll go away and think about our dry sow feeding.”
“We always learn something new from BPEX meetings and this was a really excellent event. We will be re-thinking how quickly we start cross-fostering piglets and make sure they have had enough maternal colostrum first.”
“Great presentations by the two producers. Very interesting!”
Back to the Future – March 2010
Click here to download presentations from ‘Back to the Future’
Focus on Breeding – October 2010
Download presentations from this conference below.
- Focus on Breeding: Wean to oestrus management
- Focus on Breeding: Stress and Reproduction
- Focus on Breeding: Second Litter Drop Syndrome
- Focus on Breeding: Insemination strategies
- Focus on Breeding: Future AI technologies
- Focus on Breeding: Establishing pregnancy
- Gilt Management Pack – download here
