The effects of diet form and feeder design on the growth performance of finishing pigs
Wet-dry feeder and pelleting may play an important role on the improvement of ADG and F:G in finishing pigs.
Page 44 of articles about management
Monitoring of farrowings (V): Farrowings monitoring patrols combined with other activities
When the farrowings are programmed, their supervision has to be one of the main tasks in the farrowing quarters. The rest of the tasks must be organized in such a way that we can exert the maximum control over the programmed sows.
Using different colored ear tags to identify piglets born during different weeks
The aim of this trick is to identify quickly and practically, the age of piglets and pigs just by looking at the color of their ear tag.
Monitoring of farrowings (IV): Control systems
It would be so nice if the sows could warn us when there are problems when they are giving birth to their piglets during labour! This seems impossible… Or maybe it is not so.
Time delay valves for a maximum consumption of water in the farrowing quarters
The goal is that the sows always have access to a good amount of fresh drinking water in the farrowing quarters.
Switzerland distributes fund for the castration of piglets under anesthesia
The fund, established in 2009 in Switzerland to promote the rapid and widespread painless castration of piglets, was closed in late 2011.
Selection for feed efficiency in growing pig
The objective of our study was to evaluate RFI as a criterion of selection to improve feed conversion ratio (FCR).
When should we level out litters?
With the high prolificacy of sows nowadays, leveling out litters is one of the most hands-on jobs on the farms of today. It is one of the first steps to start lactation successfully.
Importance of energy supply for piglet survival
We have seen the importance of obtaining a sufficient dose of quality colostrum to generate the newborn’s defenses as well as the conflict that this can suppose when we level the litters after birth. Now lets take a look at the importance of rapidly obtaining colostrum and milk to ensure energy supply and minimize temperature loss.
Varying creep feed duration affects pre-weaning and post-weaning performance and behavior of piglet and sow
Creep feed initiated from day 5 and 10 reduce diarrhea scores in piglets and the estrus interval in sows.
Weaning on Friday and using altrenogest to avoid weekend farrowings; is it possible?
What if we were to wean on Friday and were able to block farrowings for 2 days? The bulk of farrowings would be concentrated on Monday.
Pen size for pigs
Production manuals and legislation often give recommendations as to the minimum space requirements for each type of animal. There are many sources where we can find information about the minimum requirements to ensure animal comfort. But, what is the optimal number of animals to put in a pen? Is there a magic number? There is not as much documentation on this topic.
Monitoring of Farrowing (III): Factors that increase stillbirths
Long farrowings increase mortality, and deaths occur above all in the last 1/3 of the delivery.
Management of farrowing objectives to achieve optimal piglet weight at weaning (II): batches every two weeks
The dispersion of matings described in the previous article is even more drastic on farms operating in bands over one week.
Hormone management V: Using altrenogest to restore the metabolic state of weaned sows
When gilts were mated at a little more than 100 kg, productivity at 2nd parity had a huge decline and the sow was never able to reach their maximum potential.
Replacement planning and altrenogest management using spreadsheets
In the last chapter on hormone management we looked at the advantages of “a la carte” altrenogest treatment as opposed to the 18 day treatment used to synchronize gilts.