Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
AUSTRALIAN PORK LIMITED 1 | www.australianpork.com.au | [email protected] | Toll Free 1800 789 099
toPigsIssue 1 Summer 2016/2017
Improve gilt retention and
replacement rates– page 2 –
Meet APL supported
post graduates– page 4 –
Combat against
seasonal infertility– page 6 –
Inside this issue:
Research and Innovation
Welcome to the first edition of ‘Pigs to Pork’, the APL Research and Innovation team’s new quarterly publication. ‘Pigs to Pork’ is designed
to highlight APL’s latest research outcomes to all Australian pig producers. We welcome any feedback you have and would love to
hear from you – please feel free to contact us at details below.
From everyone at the R&I team, we wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.
APL MembershipFor information
call Heidi Eldridge on 02 6270 8807 or visit the APL website at www.australianpork.
com.au/members.
AUSTRALIAN PORK LIMITED 2 | www.australianpork.com.au | [email protected] | Toll Free 1800 789 099 AUSTRALIAN PORK LIMITED 3| www.australianpork.com.au | [email protected] | Toll Free 1800 789 099
Issue 1 Summer 2016/2017Pigs to Pork
Improving replacement rates and retention of breeding femalesBased on the cost of production, an average breeding sow needs to be retained in the herd until at least par-ity four to five in order to start generating a profit. The premature loss of a sow from the breeding herd can be because of reproductive failure, lameness, injuries, illness and mortality which all adversely affect potential herd productivity.
Dr Kate Plush led a study with the South Australian Research and Development Institute led a study (APL Project 2013/022) to identify the reasons for low reten-tion of mated gilts to parity three.
Twenty participating farms in South Australia, Queens-land and Victoria were involved. The full summary of the reproductive performance of these 20 farms can be found in the final report. To view the final report visit APL’s website at www.australianpork.com.au.
Key recommendations
Of the gilts that farrowed three litters, the average retention rate was 60% indicating that sow retention may not be as big an issue as first anticipated. However, the replacement rate was high and this would have effects on herd productivity. The primary reasons for the culling of young sows were reproductive issues.
ProHand™ Pigs and ProHand™ Abattoir training programs have been redeveloped and now freely available for all of the pork industry to utilise.
We have used stable and easy platforms for effec-tive delivery have been used to provide integrated programs that target pig welfare and stockperson attitudes across the whole pork supply chain.
Supported by Dr Temple Grandin, an internationally respected leader in animal welfare science, these training programs are available for individuals to complete online (rather than having to attend a course run by a facilitator). For login details or fur-ther information please contact Ashley Norval on 02 6270 8823 or at [email protected].
Redeveloped ProHand™ Now Available
Causes of Sow RemovalAge, %
Average Range23 0 to 42
Reproductive performance, % 15 0 to 50NIP/return, % 14 0 to 36Leg problems, % 10 5 to 23
Gilt management to increase retentionHigh percentages of both return services for gilts and culling of young sows for reproductive issues were two issues observed. This was most likely explained by the fact that gilts were mated outside the optimal age range, leading to sub-fertile gilts entering the breeding herd.
Recommendations are:• Culling strategies should focus on removing gilts that
show delayed puberty or heat• Young sows should not be culled for the wrong rea-
sons (reproductive failure may be the end result but lameness the actual cause).
Heat detection and mating strategiesHeat detection and mating strategies should be revised due to the sub-optimal farrowing rates, low percent bred by seven days post weaning and the large number of empty days resulting from long return to service intervals.
The investigators recommend that:• Puberty stimulation and heat detection should be full
physical contact with a mature boar, similar in size• Empty days can be reduced by implementing better
return detection, though the use of heat checks with boars between days 18 and 25 post-mating and ultra-sound testing for pregnancy
• Removal of sub-fertile gilts from the population to improve herd reproduction
• Optimisation of heat detection and mating should occur.
To read the full final report, visit the APL website or, contact Dr Robyn Terry at [email protected] or on 0427 423 869.
Retention and RemovalGilt age at first service, d
Average Range237 199 to 274
Replacement rate, % 56 41 to 71% of gilts farrowing 3 litters 60 43 to 90% of gilts farrowing 6 litters 30 13 to 41
Reproductive PerformanceFarm size (sows)
Average Range765 277 to 3218
Conception rate (d35), % 89 75 to 98Farrowing rate, % 80 65 to 91
Lameness effects on gilt retention
A second study, led by Dr David Lines of SunPork Farms South, investigated risk factors that may lead to lameness in group housed sows and may ultimately result in being culled from the herd. Preliminary findings to date are:
Retention of sows was affected by her weight at first mating• Gilts that were too heavy (>161kg) or too light
(<100kg) at first mating had a reduced retention to parity four than gilts in the 111 to 160 kg weight range.
Reproduction was the main cause of removal from the breeding herd• Failure to cycle, early and late pregnancy failure and
fertility accounted for 74% of all removals• Lameness accounted for 10% of all removals• Poor structure of the back legs most likely result in
lameness • Sows with lameness in a rear limb may have a
greater chance of being removed from the herd.
Lactation managementThe high stillbirth and pre-wean mortality rates rela-tive to average total born indicates that poor farrowing house management may have been a contributing factor in this study. As causes for mortality and stillbirths were outside of this project, a better understanding of the potential causes is required.
However, the following recommendations are given:• As gilts are vulnerable in their first lactation, greater
focus should be given to them• Lactation nutrient intake should be maximised so
that body condition at weaning is suffice to optimise rebreeding success
• Efforts should be made to minimise piglet loss• Attention should be given to farrowing
accommodation – Cleaned and disinfected – Feed and water facilities in correct working order – Free from drafts and adequate heat provided for piglets
– Regular maintenance for all fixtures.
AUSTRALIAN PORK LIMITED 4 | www.australianpork.com.au | [email protected] | Toll Free 1800 789 099 AUSTRALIAN PORK LIMITED 5| www.australianpork.com.au | [email protected] | Toll Free 1800 789 099
Pigs to Pork
As Manager, Production Innovation at Australian Pork Limited (APL) I am responsible for
the management of R&D pro-grams in pig reproduction, nutri-
tion and welfare. I joined APL in July 2013, having completed an undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Science (Agri-cultural Science) and then with the support of the first Pork CRC for an Interna-tionally Competitive Pork Industry, my PhD focussed on oestrus stimulation in the lactating sow, through The University of Adelaide.
I’m passionate about the pork industry, its pro-ducers and about the development of young people and enjoy seeing
APL R&I Manager Dr Robyn Terry
Welfare problems encountered in commercial pig production systems may be the inherent result of an interaction between housing design, management practices and pig social behaviour.
I investigated these relationships while completing my PhD, which was supported by Australian Pork Lim-ited. During my PhD program (Pork CRC 1C-102), I found that individual sow aggressive behaviour in the first gestation has only a weak to moderate rela-tionship to that in the second gestation. Moreover, current group-housing systems may be failing to protect the most subordinate sows from aggression, and the inevitable effects of aggression on welfare and productivity. Thus, the ultimate productivity of group gestation housing systems may currently be limited by poor performance of the most vulnerable animals. I also developed a behavioural ‘predictive’ test for aggression, which was related to aggression early after mixing into groups for sows, but not gilts. This test was subsequently used to mix sows into mixed parity groups of mainly aggressive females or a control treatment, but found no effects of group composition on sow aggression or welfare. Thus, while an individual sow may have a general tendency to deliver more or less aggression, she may also dis-
play flexibility around this general tendency depend-ing on prior experiences, the environment (including the social environment), internal state, and stage of development.
My research highlights that, although experiential and genetic factors are known to contribute to sow aggression, social experience is important to the development of aggression in pigs. To test this hypothesis, I was awarded the Department of Agri-culture and Water Resources, Science and Innovation Award in 2014. Using this award, I showed that group lactation housing, where piglets can interact with unfamiliar litters and sows, can substantially reduce post-weaning aggression and injuries in piglets.
Since graduating with my PhD in 2014, I have contin-ued to work within the Australian pork industry as a post-doctoral research fellow. My present research is examining loose-sow lactation housing systems (Pork CRC 1A-113, 1C-104). I remain interested in protect-ing vulnerable sows in group-house gestation sys-tems, and am presently examining the short and long-term relationships between sow feeding behaviour, aggressive behaviour, welfare and productivity (Pork CRC 1A-115).
Australian Pork Limited supported PhD, Dr Megan Verdon
Heat stress can jeopardise the health status and pro-ductive performance of pigs. Consequently, the profit-ability of pig industry is compromised and is estimated that USD 300 million is lost annually in the American industry due to heat stress. Fan Liu’s PhD studies, under the guidance of Professor Frank Dunshea at the University of Melbourne, aimed to understand the physiological impacts of heat stress in pigs and develop nutritional strategies to alleviate heat stress. Nutri-tional strategies, including supplementing of diets with functional nutrients, may be a flexible, economical and practical way to reduce heat stress.
Fan showed that heat stress can severely damage the intestinal epithelial barrier integrity in growing pigs, causing a “leaky gut”, which potentially increases the chances for bacteria and food antigens to enter into the blood stream and thus undermine the health of the pig.
Interesting, he found that the mechanism causing the leaky gut in the heat-stressed pigs was related to oxidative stress. Supplementations with dietary anti-oxidants (selenium (1.0 ppm) and vitamin E (200 IU/kg) can effectively reduce oxidative stress and allevi-ate the leaky gut syndrome in the heat-stressed pig. However, feeding 1.0 ppm of selenium in the period when heat events are not expected may interfere with insulin sensitivity which, is a crucial mechanism for pig growth. Consultations with your nutritionist will be important.
Fan also demonstrated that a combined supplemen-tation with selenium (0.4 ppm), vitamin E (100 IU/kg), chromium (400 ppb) and betaine (0.2%), compared to a standard lactation diet containing 0.15 ppm sele-nium and 44 IU/kg vitamin E, reduced the loss of both body weight and backfat of lactating sows farrowing in summer, suggesting that the sows were better able to cope with the heat stress.
Overall, these practical nutritional strategies can reduce heat stress in pigs. Functional nutrients such as selenium, vitamin, chromium and betaine, at appro-priate levels, are recommended in summer rations to maintain the health status and productive perfor-mance of pigs.
Fan has now joined Rivalea Australia as a research sci-entist via the Industry Placement Program, supported by Pork CRC.
APL CEO Andrew Spencer and Dr Megan Verdon.
their passion for the pork industry grow. Another ele-ment of my role at APL is acting as the coordinator for the tertiary students within the Australian pork industry. This is a role I find very rewarding and enjoy witnessing the development of the students and their passion in our industry.
Despite being a born and bred city girl, I’ve always had a passion for animals and agriculture which is what attracted me to want to work within the pork industry. From my early beginnings within the pork industry I have received much support by people within the industry and our producers.
I’m based at the Roseworthy Campus at the University of Adelaide so if you would like to contact me please call 0427 423 869 or email on [email protected] or drop into see me at the Roseworthy Campus.
‘‘ ... I’ve always had a passion for animals and agriculture ...
‘‘ Research profile: Fan Liu
Issue 1 Summer 2016/2017Pigs to Pork
AUSTRALIAN PORK LIMITED 6 | www.australianpork.com.au | [email protected] | Toll Free 1800 789 099
Summer can a challenging time of the year for care of pigs. The combination of heat and increased day-length can create environmental conditions that can be difficult for pigs to cope with and for people to manage. The neg-ative production effects can be experienced by the entire herd as pigs struggle to cope with the higher tempera-tures – and are exacerbated in the breeding herd.
Summer infertility is commonly experienced by sows and gilts. It presents as a depression in fertility during sum-mer and early autumn, which may also be accompanied by a reduction in litter size. This fertility drop can result in a reduction in the proportion of gilts reaching puberty. It can also cause delays in the time taken for gilts to reach puberty, poor heat expression, extended wean-ing-to-mating intervals in sows, and high anoestrus rates in both gilts and sows.
Importantly, incidences of pregnancy failure and late pregnancy loss are also considerably higher during sum-mer and early autumn, with a higher proportion of sows exhibiting an irregular return to heat post-mating.
Don’t leave it too late and start acting now to combat seasonal infertility. The key messages are:
Don’t ignore water – it is the pig’s most important nutrient:
• Poor water supply can lead to slower growth rates, urinary infections and lower feed intake leading to body condition loss, especially in lactating sows.
• Make sure you check flow rates of drinkers, regularly check that drinkers are working, are positioned well for the height of the pigs and regularly test the water for good quality.
• Ensure pigs stay within their thermal comfort zone by ensuring air temperatures and stocking densities are
optimised for each class of pig. • Spray and drip cooling systems are an easy and
cheap method to assist with combating high summer temperatures.
• Good ventilation is important – water cooling will not be effective unless there is some air movement.
Steps to alleviate the effects of summer infertility:
• Provide adequate training for all staff in oestrus detec-tion and insemination.
• Mate more sows during the summer infertility period.• Maximise nutrient intake, especially for lactating sows.• Ensure adequate water intake of sows during summer.• Provide cooling for sows and boars and pay particular
attention to first parity sows.• Increase lactation length.• Ensure full physical contact, with a mature boar, com-
mences on the day of weaning and occurs twice daily for at least 10 minutes.
• Ensure insemination practices are optimised with appropriate semen storage and handling.
• Increased emphasis on checking for returns.• Careful timing of mixing in early pregnancy and if
possible, individually feed mated sows and gilts for the first month of pregnancy.
• Ensure gilts reach puberty by 220 days of age and cull gilts that have not reached puberty by 240 days of age.
For more information visit the APL website to download a copy of the APL/Pork CRC manual “Preparing for the Summer Months: Seasonal Infertility and Beyond” or simply go to http://australianpork.com.au/latest-news/seasonal-infertility-manual/. Alternatively, if you’d like a hard copy posted to you, please contact Dr Robyn Terry at [email protected] or on 0427 423 869.
Summer Infertility – Act Now
Issue 1 Summer 2016/2017Pigs to Pork
