Guide to how to breed pigs and how to manage them (serial 11)

Preface Foreword

Danyu pig is famous for its high yield, but due to the challenges of pig farm construction, feeding management and many other aspects, the production performance of Danyu pig in China has failed to meet the expectations, but the popularity of Danyu pig in China's pig industry is still getting higher and higher. Pig Translation Hall has specially collected a series of materials related to Danyu, and is currently reproducing the Danyu breeding Management Manual produced by the Danish Pig Research Center jointly launched by Hi Meat Technology, Yinglian Feed and Huayang breeding Pig.

Editor's words Editor\'s Note

Breeding is the beginning of a new round of production, and the quality of breeding will directly affect a series of key KPI, such as conception rate, delivery rate, litter size, weaning number and so on. Therefore, the correct management of the breeding house is helpful to improve and maintain the high and stable yield of sows. This manual explains in detail the various techniques of checking and breeding under different production modes, many of which are illustrated and can be directly used as SOP.

20. Treatment of returning sows

HANDLING OF RETURNERS

20.1

It is inevitable to return to sows, but proper treatment can minimize the days of non-production.

Returners Can Not Be Avoided, But With Correct Handling Non-productive Days Can Be Minimized

Estrus identification should begin on the 18th day after mating.

Heat control should be performed from 18 days after mating.

The pregnancy was identified by ultrasonic scanner on the 24th day after sow mating.

Pregnancy control can be performed from day 24 with a 2-dimensional scanner.

Place the empty sow next to the backup sow.

Empty sows are placed near the gilts.

Sows that have returned to love should be transferred to the herd expected to give birth in the same week.

Sows that has returned, move on to the week group they should farrow with.

Sows that fall in love more than once are usually eliminated.

Sows that return more than once should generally beculled.

Eliminate the estrus sows that give birth to more than 5 births.

Sows older than 5 litters that returns should be culled.

Those irregular estrus sows do not usually follow a three-week estrous cycle.

Irregular returners are returners that do not fifit with the normal 3-week cycle.

Returning sows are inevitable.

Returners can not be avoided.

The return of sows will increase working hours and cause restlessness in the pen.

Returners is time consuming and provide turbulence in the pen.

20.2

Too many returning sows will reduce the number of piglets per sow.

Many Returners Costs Pig Per Sow Per Year

Lack of estrus and pregnancy identification can lead to an increase in the number of days of non-birth caused by estrus sows.

Lack of oestrus- and pregnancy control leads to many non-production days because of returners.

6-7 days of non-production will reduce the annual number of piglets per sow by 1.

6-7 non-production days extra "costs" 1 pig per sow per year.

The return of sows increases working hours, which is due to multiple turns and additional observation of empty sows.

Returners are time consuming due to multiple displacements and increased observation of empty sows.

Too many regurgitation sows can make it difficult to manage group size (per week).

Many returners make it diffiffifficult to manage the group size.

20.3

Supplementary note: treatment of reverting sows

Additional Comments: Handling Of Returners

If the sow is not conceived for the first time and is in a normal estrous cycle, it will come into estrus again 18-24 days later. Through the active estrus identification of the inbred sows, the potential estrus sows can be found at the first time.

If the fifirst mating has not resulted in a pregnancy and the sow is in normal cycle, she will be in heat again 18-24 days later. By active heat control among the mated sows you will be able to catch potential returners the fifirst time they come in heat.

If the sow is found to be empty through the scan, it should be transferred to the breeding house, where it can provide better short-term optimal feeding, pay more attention to estrus identification and better contact with boars than in the pregnancy shed.

If you fifind the sow empty by scanning, it is moved to the mating unit where there will be a better chance of flflushing, more focus on heat control and better boar contact than in the gestation unit.

Place the empty sow next to the backup sow and ensure that the estrus test is carried out twice a day. Thus it is easier to notice the estrus of sows.

By collecting the empty sows near gilts you ensure that they are where you will be making heat control twice a day. This ensures that you are more aware of when the sows come into heat.

Transfer the estrus sows to the pigs delivered in the same week, which makes it easier for pregnancy identification, vaccination and other work.

It gives the best view in the unit if you always move the returners so they are housed with the week group they will farrow with. This will ease all future work with pregnancy control, vaccination, etc.

Experience shows that the delivery rate of estrus sows is lower than that of other sows in the population. If a sow repeats estrus, the probability of pregnancy decreases greatly with the number of estrus. If the delivery rate in the group is less than 82%, and the number of sows decreases in a given week, it is likely to be due to sows that return to love two or more times.

Experiences shows that the farrowing rate of returners is lower than other sows in the herd. If asow returns repeatedly, the propability of pregnancy will be strongly decreasing with the numbers ofreturnings. If the farrowing rate in the herd is under 82% and if there is a lack of sows in the weekly group, it may be appropriate to let a sow return two or more times.

Experience shows that if sows give birth to more than 5 births, the delivery rate will be very low.

Experience shows that sows with more than 5 litters have a very low farrowing rate on returning.

Irregular return of estrus means that compared with the time of estrus / mating recorded for the first time, it is not possible to take 3 weeks as the estrous cycle.

Irregular returners, which are returners that do not have a 3-week cycle, in relation to the fifirst recorded oestrus/ mating will occur.

Irregular return may be due to:

Irregular returners may be because:

The sow was not in estrus when it was first mated.

The sow was not in heat at the fifirst mating.

The registered mating time is incorrect.

The date of mating is not registered properly.

Sows had a period of estrus (due to stress, too little feed, shorter days, weak light in the pigsty, bad climate and toxins in the feed).

The sow has been a cyclical ("stalled") for a period (stress, too little feed, decreasing day length, tooweak light strength in the unit, bad climate, and toxins in the feed).

Sows have or have had cysts (which may be caused by toxins, but this is not the only reason).

The sows have or have had cysts. (Can occur as a result of toxins, but it is not always a reason isfound)

The sow was pregnant but miscarried (lost or stunted).

The sow was pregnant but lost the pregnancy (dropped or back formed fetuses).

21. Observation and registration of reserve sows in first estrus

HEAT OBSERVATION AND REGISTRATION OF FIRST HEAT IN GILTS

21.1

The best observation of estrus

Optimal Heat Observation

Reserve sows usually have their first estrus at the age of 6-7 months.

Gilts normally get their fifirst heat in 6-7 months of age.

After 6 months of age, reserve sows can begin to come into contact with boars every day.

From the gilts are 6 months old, they can be introduced to the boar daily.

Estrus identification is carried out once a day through the "five key points" of estrus identification.

Heat control is performed after the 5-point plan once a day.

When a reserve sow is found to be in estrus for the first time, it should be marked.

The gilts are marked when the fifirst heat is observed.

After the first estrus, the sow will form a stable estrus cycle of 18-24 days.

Gilts that have had their fifirst heat will be cyclic with an 18-24 day interval.

Reserve sows that fail to estrus with other sows in the group need to receive new estrus stimuli.

Gilts that are not coming to heat with the rest of the group are exposed to new stimuli.

The reserve sow should have comfortable space, enough light and contact with the boar in the breeding shed.

The mating unit must have good space, plenty of light and boar contact to the gilts.

The crowded enclosure makes it difficult to observe and record estrus.

Cramped conditions make it diffiffifficult to observe and record heat.

21.2

The reserve sow is not in estrus, probably because

Lack Of Heat In Gilts May Be Due To

Restrained by stress during estrus, such as overcrowded enclosures, hierarchical competition, or competition for feed.

The heat is suppressed due to negative stress eg lack of space, rank matches or fifight over feed.

Poor physical condition, stunting.

Poor body condition and failure to thrive.

Lack of contact with boars.

Lack of boar contact.

The smell of ammonia in the pigsty suppresses the sense of smell of the reserve sows.

Ammonia smell in the unit inhibits the gilts smell.

The estrus sign of the reserve sow is not obvious, and it has not been found by the staff because the estrus identification is not in place.

The gilt shows weak heat signs and the heat is not detected by the staffff because the heat control isinadequate.

There is not enough light.

Lack of light.

The following can cause difficulties in estrus identification of reserve sows.

Heat control in gilts can be diffiffifficult if

The reserve sows are scattered in different positions in the pigsty.

The gilts are in difffferent places in the housing system.

The reserve sows are in a large population.

The gilts go in large incalculable groups.

21.3 additional note: observation and registration of first estrus in reserve sows

Additional Comments: Heat Observation And Registration Of First Heat In Gilts

In addition to age, the time of first estrus depends on breed, body condition, contact with boars and changes in the surrounding environment of reserve sows.

Besides age the time of fifirst heat depends of race, body condition, boar contact and changes in the gilts surroundings.

Contact with boars requires backup sows and boars in the same enclosure. To achieve the best results of contact with boars, contact is required twice a day for 10-15 minutes.

Boar contact should be done by gilts and boar being in the same pen. For optimal effffect of boar contact it is recommended twice a day of 10-15 minutes duration.

Boars must be sexually mature and preferably over 10 months old.

The boar must be sexually mature, preferably over 10 months old.

The implementation of estrus identification should first be observed from external signs of estrus, such as red and swollen labia, increased curiosity, and may climb across other sows.

Heat control is performed by fifirst and foremost to look after the visible exterior heat signs which are

Swollen and red labia, increased curiosity from the gilt and possible mount on other animals.

Not all sows have obvious signs of estrus (the older the reserve sows are, the less obvious the signs of estrus), so it is important for insemination personnel to identify estrus actively. When insemination personnel conduct estrus identification, they should imitate the stimulation points when boars come into contact with reserve sows.

Not all animals show visible heat signs (the older the gilts get, the weaker the heat signs are) so it isimportant that the inseminator performs an active heat control. When the inseminator performs heatcontrol it is done by imitating the boars touch of the gilts stimulation points.

The reserve sow must have a static reflex in order to be confirmed as the first estrus. The static reflex can be accomplished through the "five points" of estrus identification performed by insemination personnel or by using boars.

The gilt must show standing heat to detect the fifirst heat. The standing heat is triggered either via the 5 point plan executed by the inseminator or by using the boar.

Generally speaking, during estrus, a lot of work is usually done to make the reserve sows have a static reflex.

First and last during the heat, you usually work more with the gilt to get it to show standing heat.

When observing the first estrus of reserve sows, it is important to mark them. Use three different colors and change one color every week, which helps to observe the backup sows that need to be paid attention to every week. When observing the first estrus, you can also choose to give the backup sow a sow number. The reserve sows are marked for short-term preferred feeding (short-term preferred feeding must be carried out 7-14 days before the planned mating date).

It is a great advantage to mark the gilt when the fifirst heat is observed. Use 3 difffferent colors and change the color of each week. It helps to visualize the gilts you should be focusing on each week. You can also choose to give the gilt a sow number when fifirst heat is observed. Marking of gilts is a tool to fifind out when to flflush them. (Flushing must be done 7-14 days before expected mating)

Record the backup sow number and week number on a board or card, so that even if the color mark on the sow disappears, it can be judged by the record.

Write down the gilt number and week number on a board or card, so you have something to relate to if the color marks disappear.

When mating at the second estrus or later, the litter size was higher than that at the first estrus.

Mating of the gilt in the second heat or later increases the litter size in relation to mating in the fifirst heat.

When the estrus of the reserve sow is regular, the time of estrus is fixed, and the interval of estrus is 18-24 days.

When the gilts are cyclical, the time of heat cannot be moved. Cyclic gilts come into heat within an interval of 18-24 days.

If you try to induce estrus by injecting hormones into reserve sows, there is a risk of forming cysts, and the time of estrus will not change.

If you try to provoke a heat by injecting the gilt with hormones, you risk the formation of cysts and it does not move the time of heat.

Hormone is not recommended for backup sows.

Use of hormones for gilts is not recommended.

Reserve sows that fail to estrus with other reserve sows in the enclosure or who are over 7.5 months old need new stimuli, such as mixing with other sows, turning in circles, and coming into contact with different boars.

Gilts that do not come into heat together with the other pen mates or later than 7.5 months is exposed to new stimuli/ positive stress. It can be done by mixing with other animals, moving between the units and/or boar contact with difffferent boars.

Over 10-11 months old and in a comfortable cage, but no obvious estrus reserve sows need to be eliminated. There are always some sows that don't go into estrus. If the proportion of non-estrus is more than 5%, more attention needs to be paid to feeding conditions.

Gilts that have had optimal conditions in the mating unit, but have not shown a clear heat latest at 10-11 months of age are culled. There will always be a certain number of animals that never comes into heat. If this number exceeds 5% you should explore the conditions more.