34 www.pigchamp.com Spring 2025 longevity potential. ° Gilt eligibility management was crucial for maximizing gilts bred within the right quadrant of weight, HNS (Heat-Not-Service), and age. · Implemented structured weight monitoring using flank tapes and bred at appropriate weight (300–350 lbs). · Initiated boar exposure at 24 weeks of age to enhance reproductive development. · Strictly culled gilts failing to cycle by 34 weeks. ° Ensured gilts were fed according to PIC guidelines during gestation. Farrowing Management Adjustments: ° Expanding female development through P1 farrowing and beyond was key to success. Pre-farrowing management and sow care tactics were implemented: · Installed water nipples in gestation to accli- mate gilts pre-farrowing. · Implemented pre-farrow water training. · Enhanced early intervention protocols for at- risk gilts and prioritized treatment. 3. Individual Sow Care: Early Identification and Intervention Adding intention and accountability to sow care can improve longevity and increase a sow’s ability to reach her genetic potential. Management opportunities focused on providing timely interventions and treatments in farrowing: · Increased monitoring intensity from pre-farrow through three days post-farrow. · Enhanced focus on sows showing signs of reduced feed or water intake, and sows not standing or nursing in the first 24-48 hours post-farrowing. · Introduction of a water-based supplement (Humysin) to increase water intake and mitigate constipation. · Implemented strict culling protocols at weaning, prioritizing the removal of high-risk sows before subsequent parities. 4. Sow Body Condition & Feeding Accurate body condition is essential for retention and productivity. Data from 1,028 sows showed that sows measuring thin at due-to-farrow had a greater POP incidence compared with ideal and fat sows combined (5.8 v. 1.76% POP incidence, respectively, p < 0.001).1 This research highlights the opportunity for producers to mitigate POP risk and enhance robustness through improved body condition management. Due-to-farrow caliper measurements are key to understanding body condition dynamics throughout gestation. These measurements will help the producers assess whether sows are losing, maintaining, or gaining body condition during pregnancy, providing critical insights into risks and overall sow health at the farm level. PIC recently updated its caliper ranges to account for faster and leaner-growing modern sows. These ranges also conveniently correlate with feeding recommendations to help build or maintain body condition and mitigate POP risk. For this producer, two key body condition opportunities were identified: Greater than 15% of sows were too thin at due-to-farrow, and P1sows were losing too much body condition during lactation. To increase longevity, management strategies included: · Standardized body condition assessments using calipers across critical stages—weaning, 30 days post-breeding, and due-to-farrow. · Adjusted feeding program based on caliper assessments to reduce the number of thin sows at due-to-farrow. · Identified at-risk P1 females, based on a caliper score of 1 (skinny) at weaning, and implemented protocols to breed on the subsequent cycle, enhancing recovery on under-conditioned, young sows. Implementation and Measurable Outcomes With a strong commitment from the farm team, implementation proceeded at a manageable pace. The most significant challenges included improving gilt management in the GDUs (gilt development units), The shift in management strategies increased sow longevity and resulted in notable improvements across impactful performance metrics, including PSY (Pigs per Sow, per Year), farrowing rate, and total born.
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