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The Feet First® Swine webinar hosted on 22nd March 2022 by Zinpro Corporation focused on optimizing nutrition and management of hyper-prolific gilts and sows, before breeding, during gestation, and throughout lactation.
Setting the scene, Dr Stefan Langer, Business Development Manager for Swine with Zinpro, commented that the animal industry has seen a rather severe increase in raw material and transport costs. Therefore, it becomes even more important to manage our resources better and maintain productivity at the highest possible level.
The importance of gilt nutrition and management
Thomas Bruun, Senior Specialist - Nutrition & Feeding with SEGES Innovation, explained that gilt nutrition and management should focus on achieving the right weight and backfat at the time of first service. The aim is to optimize both litter size in first parity and longevity to maximize sow productivity in hyper-prolific sows.
For gilts with high genetic potential for growth the aim is to have a daily gain of 800 to 825 g/day from 30 kg to breeding. To optimize litter size, weight at time of breeding is the main determinant. A recent trial showed: +0.4 piglets born for each 10 kg additional weight at first service between 140 and 180 kg. However, when we consider the longevity of the animals, breeding gilts that are too heavy has a negative impact.
Ultimately, it is crucial to have uniform gilts at first service to increase the chances of having uniform sows later. The goals for first service at the second heat is an age around 220-240 days, backfat thickness of 13-15 mm, and a weight of around 140-160 kg.
Effects of different organic trace mineral sources on sow performance and condition
Sows raising large litters of heavy and healthy piglets over a long life, breeding back quickly, and using feed efficiently are key factors to profitable and sustainable piglet production, explained Dr Christof Rapp, Swine Nutritionist with Zinpro.
A recent trial showed that feeding a diet supplemented with Zinpro Performance Minerals® to highly prolific sows, reduces sow losses in late gestation, improves farrowing rate, increases litter weaning weight, spares body reserves during lactation, and improves conception rate in the next cycle when compared with MHA chelate forms of the trace minerals.
Understanding and managing diets and feeding of sows in gestation and lactation
In the last part of the webinar, Thomas Bruun confirmed that the main targets when feeding the gestating sow are to achieve high and uniform piglet birth weights and concomitantly the right body condition score before farrowing without excess sow weight gain.
Furthermore, feeding the lactating sows should provide enough energy and amino acids to fulfill the requirement for milk production, and an efficient feeding management programme should control weight loss during lactation in order to have a successful subsequent reproduction. A loss of backfat between 1-3 mm and a weight loss up to 15 kg are acceptable for DanBred sows.
Summarizing the webinar, Dr Langer said that management and nutritional interventions of hyper-prolific gilts and sows, before breeding, during gestation, and throughout lactation can help improve long-term performance and longevity. Optimum levels of important trace minerals are key to obtaining the best performance. Availa Sow and Availa Se together provide specific combinations of trace minerals in a unique molecular format that result in superior sow and piglet performance and longevity. Together this will help producers to achieve higher returns from hyper-prolific gilts and sows.
March 22, 2022 - Zinpro
