Banff Pork Seminar 2019Combining multiple weeks of production into 1 larger group • # of weeks...

Banff Pork Seminar 2019

Batch Farrowing: a tool to bulletproof the sow farmBlaine Tully DVM

Agenda

1. Batch Farrowing pros and cons

2. Converting to batch farrowing

3. Specific Batch farrowing regimes

Bullet Proofing?

So…I lied!• there’s no such thing as bullet proofing the sow farm!

Bullet Proofing?

But we have many tools!!• Vaccines, medications etc• Batch farrowing may be a good tool in your farm

• Health management • Marketing• Human resource management

What is Batch Farrowing?Blaine’s definitions:Combining multiple weeks of production into 1 larger group

• # of weeks between entering sows to crates defines batch

• E.g.• 4 wk• 5 wk• 6 wk (3 wk stagger)

Why consider batch farrowing?Health:Minimizing the range of ages with in wean/finish groups

AIAO pig flow to reduce impact of disease shedding between groups (farrowing and wean/finish)

Allows easier application of disease eradication (e.g. PRRS, PED)

Allows optimal application for feed/water medication programs

Why consider batch farrowing?Productivity (efficiency):Space/environment utilization

Reduce transportation/delivery costse.g. pig transport, AI, med/vaccine/other supply

Allows optimization of feed budget

Marketing larger groups of isowean or feeder pigs

Work flow

Why NOT TO consider batch farrowing?Productivity (efficiency): notice no health category here!

Concentration of workMay conflict with other priorities (e.g. field work, Christmas, etc)

Any other management mistakes are amplified (e.g. poor conception)

Space utilization

Why NOT TO consider batch farrowing?Productivity (efficiency) Pig flow does not fit barn design (or customer)

Natural service boars may limit options• (BUT also boar stud capacity)

NPD’s • Possible increased reliance on hormonal intervention to

synchronize gilts and repeat sows

Other ConsiderationsImpact on Suppliers

• Transport• AI• Vaccination crews• Medication/vaccine use• Feed supplier

Other ConsiderationsImpact on Staff

5wk batch guy:“those crappy jobs that nobody likes only come around every 5 weeks! But they are 5 times crappier!”

Important to have a good level of understanding (and communication) with your staff

Other ConsiderationsImpact on Staff

Ability to share staff between sow units (for production systems)

Cross-training and developing your people!

Real bullet-proofing: 24 hour piglet care (Colostrum management!!)

Other ConsiderationsImpact on the barn and management

Maintenance (down-time for these tasks)

Better data capture: FE/ADG/Mortality for the Batch

Batch conversions• Shift a sow (or group of sows) to another breed week

Change wean dateo Space and flow limitations

Skip heat cycle (HNS)o $$ in NPD

Hormone interventiono “Extra-label”

Batch conversionsHormone intervention (“Extra-label”)

• Sow cycle is not like a pencil!

• Very good tools to lengthen the cycle

Hormonal intervention

The Ovarian Cycle of the Pig

Hormonal interventionAltrenogest (Regumate®, Altrasyn®, Altermate®)• Mimics progesterone hormone• None labeled for sows• Inhibits ovary from cycling

Hormonal intervention

Hormonal interventionAltrenogest (Regumate®, Altrasyn®, Altermate®)• Oral medication

• Drench or topdress on daily mealo Need daily doseo Feed at similar time each dayo Follow your vet’s instructions

While feeding Regumate…

Managing Gilt Pool Batching• Maintain large gilt pool

• Allows for many gilts to cycle naturally in batch breed window

• Strategic Regumate use can reduce gilt pool while “shifting” gilts into batches

• Need gilt to be cycling!

4 gilts…which ones are cycling?

4-week batching• Very common in North America

• Entire sow inventory = 5 batches• 4 weeks of sows combined into 1 batch

Week 1: find sows in heat….HNSWeek 2: Regumate 14 days from original wean dateWeek 3: Regumate 7 days from original wean dateWeek 4: Breed on 1st heat

The Set-up…

4-week batching considerations• Allows for similar weaning ages as weekly• Similar #’s of pigs weaned per year (potential for 2.6

litters/yr)

March 8, 2015 March 9, 2015 March 10, 2015 March 11, 2015 March 12, 2015 March 13, 2015 March 14, 2015

FARROWING FARROWING FARROWING

WEANING

Washing Washing Washing


FARROWING FARROWING FARROWING FARROWING FARROWING FARROWING FARROWING


March 29, 2015 March 30, 2015 March 31, 2015 April 1, 2015 April 2, 2015 April 3, 2015 April 4, 2015

April 5, 2015 April 6, 2015 April 7, 2015 April 8, 2015 April 9, 2015 April 10, 2015 April 11, 2015

FARROWING FARROWING FARROWING

WEANING

Washing Washing Washing

April 12, 2015 April 13, 2015 April 14, 2015 April 15, 2015 April 16, 2015 April 17, 2015 April 18, 2015

FARROWING FARROWING FARROWING FARROWING FARROWING FARROWING FARROWING

4-week batching considerations

• With restricted breed windows NPD

• Can use less-restrictive breed windows• Normal NPD BUT wean age variation

• Repeat sow management needs consideration• Sows that cycle out of batch • (use of inter-batch or slush crates)

2-week BatchingThis is actually a 4-week staggered…

4 wk

2 wk

2-wkBatch

Week Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 W-W1+reg W1+reg W1+reg

2 W1+reg W1+reg W1+reg W1+reg W-W2

3 B-B1 W-W3+reg W3+reg W3+reg


















21 B-B10 F-B2

22 Wean B1

23 B-B1 F-B3

24 Wean B2

25 B-B2 F-B4

26 Wean B3

2-week batchGain efficiency of repeat sow rebreeding

Nurse-sow management is easier

Health benefits reduced (almost continuous farrowing)

Work weeks tend to be steadier, but still clustered…

5 week batchingIncreasingly popular in Europe (and now Canada?)

• Wean age is 27-33ish days• Reduces litters/crate potential (approx 5%)

Conversion is similar to 4-week batching:Week 1 Regumate 1 week then HNSWeek 2 HNSWeek 3 2 wk RegumateWeek 4 1 wk RegumateWeek 5 find and breed

5 week batching considerationsWeanlings REALLY ready for the nursery! (24-26 days+)

Foster litter management

4 batches of sows• consider what that means for weaning day • where will sows be moved?

Staffing- very busy weeks, very slow weeks

NPD’s: higher (difficult to use “loose window”)

5-week 4-week

Calendar

SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday

Dec 23, 2018Dec 24, 2018Dec 25, 2018Jun 15, 2011Jun 16, 2011Jun 17, 2011Jun 18, 2011

Skip heat for

this weaning

Dec 30, 2018Dec 31, 2018Jan 1, 2019Jan 2, 2019Jan 3, 2019Jan 4, 2019Jan 5, 2019

Regumate weaningRegumate weaningRegumate weaningRegumate weaningRegumate weaning

Jan 2, 2019Jan 2, 2019Jan 2, 2019Jan 2, 2019Jan 2, 2019

Jan 6, 2019Jan 7, 2019Jan 8, 2019Jan 9, 2019Jan 10, 2019Jan 11, 2019Jan 12, 2019


BREED 5

BREED 4


Jan 27, 2019Jan 28, 2019Jan 29, 2019Jan 30, 2019Jan 31, 2019Feb 1, 2019Feb 2, 2019

Feb 3, 2019Feb 4, 2019Feb 5, 2019Feb 6, 2019Feb 7, 2019Feb 8, 2019Feb 9, 2019

REPEAT 5

REPEAT 4



Saillie:Batch #2

Feb 24, 2019Feb 25, 2019Feb 26, 2019Feb 27, 2019Feb 28, 2019Mar 1, 2019Mar 2, 2019


Feb 27, 2019Feb 27, 2019Feb 27, 2019Feb 27, 2019Feb 27, 2019

2nd ultrasound

Dec 31, 1899

Mar 3, 2019Mar 4, 2019Mar 5, 2019Mar 6, 2019Mar 7, 2019Mar 8, 2019Mar 9, 2019

Regumate weaningRegumate weaningRegumate weaningRegumate weaningRegumate weaningRegumate weaningRegumate weaning


Mar 6, 2019Mar 6, 2019Mar 6, 2019Mar 6, 2019Mar 6, 2019


Regumate weaningmatingmatingmatingmatingmatingmating

Feb 27, 2019Regumate weaningRegumate weaning1st ultrasound

Mar 6, 2019Feb 27, 2019Feb 27, 2019Batch #2

Mar 6, 2019Mar 6, 2019


Saillie:Batch #3matingmatingmatingmatingmatingmating

Skip heat for

this weaning



Mar 27, 2019Mar 27, 2019Mar 27, 2019Mar 27, 2019Mar 27, 2019

2nd ultrasound

Batch #2

Mar 31, 2019Apr 1, 2019Apr 2, 2019Apr 3, 2019Apr 4, 2019Apr 5, 2019Apr 6, 2019



Apr 3, 2019Apr 3, 2019Apr 3, 2019Apr 3, 2019Apr 3, 2019

Apr 7, 2019Apr 8, 2019Apr 9, 2019Apr 10, 2019Apr 11, 2019Apr 12, 2019Apr 13, 2019


Mar 27, 2019Regumate weaningRegumate weaning1st ultrasound

Apr 3, 2019Mar 27, 2019Mar 27, 2019Batch #3

Apr 3, 2019Apr 3, 2019



Skip heat for

this weaning



Apr 24, 2019Apr 24, 2019Apr 24, 2019Apr 24, 2019Apr 24, 2019

2nd ultrasound

Batch #3

Apr 28, 2019Apr 29, 2019Apr 30, 2019May 1, 2019May 2, 2019May 3, 2019May 4, 2019



May 1, 2019May 1, 2019May 1, 2019May 1, 2019May 1, 2019

May 5, 2019May 6, 2019May 7, 2019May 8, 2019May 9, 2019May 10, 2019May 11, 2019


Apr 24, 2019Regumate weaningRegumate weaning1st ultrasoundFARROWINGFARROWINGFARROWING

May 1, 2019Apr 24, 2019Apr 24, 2019Batch #4

May 1, 2019May 1, 2019

"++++"May 12, 2019May 13, 2019May 14, 2019May 15, 2019May 16, 2019May 17, 2019May 18, 2019


Mise bas:Batch #1FARROWINGFARROWINGFARROWINGFARROWINGFARROWINGFARROWINGFARROWING

CastrationCastrationCastrationCastrationCastration

"++"May 19, 2019May 20, 2019May 21, 2019May 22, 2019May 23, 2019May 24, 2019May 25, 2019

CastrationCastrationCastration

FARROWINGFARROWINGBegin RegumateRegumateRegumateRegumate

Planate due on tuesday2nd ultrasoundopen sows/gilts

Batch #4Batch #6

"+"May 26, 2019May 27, 2019May 28, 2019May 29, 2019May 30, 2019May 31, 2019Jun 1, 2019

RegumateRegumateRegumateRegumateRegumateRegumateRegumate

Pigchamp data

"+++"Jun 2, 2019Jun 3, 2019Jun 4, 2019Jun 5, 2019Jun 6, 2019Jun 7, 2019Jun 8, 2019

matingmatingmatingmatingmatingmating

RegumateRegumateLast RegumateWEANINGFARROWINGFARROWINGFARROWING

1st ultrasoundWashingWashingWashing

Batch #5

"++++"Jun 9, 2019Jun 10, 2019Jun 11, 2019Jun 12, 2019Jun 13, 2019Jun 14, 2019Jun 15, 2019




PG 600

Batch #7

"++"Jun 16, 2019Jun 17, 2019Jun 18, 2019Jun 19, 2019Jun 20, 2019Jun 21, 2019Jun 22, 2019




Batch #5Batch #7

"+"Jun 23, 2019Jun 24, 2019Jun 25, 2019Jun 26, 2019Jun 27, 2019Jun 28, 2019Jun 29, 2019


Pigchamp data

"+++"Jun 30, 2019Jul 1, 2019Jul 2, 2019Jul 3, 2019Jul 4, 2019Jul 5, 2019Jul 6, 2019




Batch #6

"++++"Jul 7, 2019Jul 8, 2019Jul 9, 2019Jul 10, 2019Jul 11, 2019Jul 12, 2019Jul 13, 2019




PG 600

Batch #8

"++"Jul 14, 2019Jul 15, 2019Jul 16, 2019Jul 17, 2019Jul 18, 2019Jul 19, 2019Jul 20, 2019




Batch #6Batch #8

"+"Jul 21, 2019Jul 22, 2019Jul 23, 2019Jul 24, 2019Jul 25, 2019Jul 26, 2019Jul 27, 2019


Pigchamp data

"+++"Jul 28, 2019Jul 29, 2019Jul 30, 2019Jul 31, 2019Aug 1, 2019Aug 2, 2019Aug 3, 2019




Batch #7

"++++"Aug 4, 2019Aug 5, 2019Aug 6, 2019Aug 7, 2019Aug 8, 2019Aug 9, 2019Aug 10, 2019




PG 600

Batch #9

"++"Aug 11, 2019Aug 12, 2019Aug 13, 2019Aug 14, 2019Aug 15, 2019Aug 16, 2019Aug 17, 2019




Batch #7Batch #9

"+"Aug 18, 2019Aug 19, 2019Aug 20, 2019Aug 21, 2019Aug 22, 2019Aug 23, 2019Aug 24, 2019


Pigchamp data

"+++"Aug 25, 2019Aug 26, 2019Aug 27, 2019Aug 28, 2019Aug 29, 2019Aug 30, 2019Aug 31, 2019




Batch #8

"++++"Sep 1, 2019Sep 2, 2019Sep 3, 2019Sep 4, 2019Sep 5, 2019Sep 6, 2019Sep 7, 2019




PG 600

Batch #10

"++"Sep 8, 2019Sep 9, 2019Sep 10, 2019Sep 11, 2019Sep 12, 2019Sep 13, 2019Sep 14, 2019




Batch #8Batch #10

"+"Sep 15, 2019Sep 16, 2019Sep 17, 2019Sep 18, 2019Sep 19, 2019Sep 20, 2019Sep 21, 2019


Pigchamp data

"+++"Sep 22, 2019Sep 23, 2019Sep 24, 2019Sep 25, 2019Sep 26, 2019Sep 27, 2019Sep 28, 2019




Batch #9

"++++"Sep 29, 2019Sep 30, 2019Oct 1, 2019Oct 2, 2019Oct 3, 2019Oct 4, 2019Oct 5, 2019




PG 600

Batch #11

"++"Oct 6, 2019Oct 7, 2019Oct 8, 2019Oct 9, 2019Oct 10, 2019Oct 11, 2019Oct 12, 2019




Batch #9Batch #11

"+"Oct 13, 2019Oct 14, 2019Oct 15, 2019Oct 16, 2019Oct 17, 2019Oct 18, 2019Oct 19, 2019


Pigchamp data

"+++"Oct 20, 2019Oct 21, 2019Oct 22, 2019Oct 23, 2019Oct 24, 2019Oct 25, 2019Oct 26, 2019




Batch #10

"++++"Oct 27, 2019Oct 28, 2019Oct 29, 2019Oct 30, 2019Oct 31, 2019Nov 1, 2019Nov 2, 2019




PG 600

Batch #12

"++"Nov 3, 2019Nov 4, 2019Nov 5, 2019Nov 6, 2019Nov 7, 2019Nov 8, 2019Nov 9, 2019




Batch #10Batch #12

"+"Nov 10, 2019Nov 11, 2019Nov 12, 2019Nov 13, 2019Nov 14, 2019Nov 15, 2019Nov 16, 2019


Pigchamp data

"+++"Nov 17, 2019Nov 18, 2019Nov 19, 2019Nov 20, 2019Nov 21, 2019Nov 22, 2019Nov 23, 2019




Batch #11

"++++"Nov 24, 2019Nov 25, 2019Nov 26, 2019Nov 27, 2019Nov 28, 2019Nov 29, 2019Nov 30, 2019




PG 600

Batch #13

"++"Dec 1, 2019Dec 2, 2019Dec 3, 2019Dec 4, 2019Dec 5, 2019Dec 6, 2019Dec 7, 2019




Batch #11Batch #13

"+"Dec 8, 2019Dec 9, 2019Dec 10, 2019Dec 11, 2019Dec 12, 2019Dec 13, 2019Dec 14, 2019


Pigchamp data

"+++"Dec 15, 2019Dec 16, 2019Dec 17, 2019Dec 18, 2019Dec 19, 2019Dec 20, 2019Dec 21, 2019




Batch #12

"++++"Dec 22, 2019Dec 23, 2019Dec 24, 2019Dec 25, 2019Dec 26, 2019Dec 27, 2019Dec 28, 2019




PG 600

Batch #14

"++"Dec 29, 2019Dec 30, 2019Dec 31, 2019Jan 1, 2020Jan 2, 2020Jan 3, 2020Jan 4, 2020




Batch #12Batch #14

"+"Jan 5, 2020Jan 6, 2020Jan 7, 2020Jan 8, 2020Jan 9, 2020Jan 10, 2020Jan 11, 2020


Pigchamp data

"+++"

"++++"

Batch #14

Batch #10

"++"

"+"

6-week (or 3-week stagger)Wean age

• But sow cycle also (10% fewer litters/crate/yr)• Will typically reduce pw/s/y compared to 4 or 5-wk

Better management of fall-back suckling pigs

Better management of NPD’s

Always suckling piglets on-site

So what’s it all add up to?Table 4: Comparison of sow productivity parameters by batch system1

Source:Calvar, C., Gestion Technique des Troupeaux de Truies. Resultats des elevages de porcs en Bretagne – 2015

Weekly

4 wk

5 wk

6 wk (3wk)

BA / litter

13.7

13.6

13.6

13.7

Weaned / litter

11.9

11.7

11.7

11.8

Wean age

21.0

20.8

21.2

26.4

PW/S/Y

30.4

29.7

29.7

28.9

PWM

12.9

13.5

13.6

13.9

Summary

Do your homework…

Summary

Do your homework…

�Banff Pork Seminar 2019AgendaBullet Proofing?Bullet Proofing?What is Batch Farrowing?Why consider batch farrowing?Why consider batch farrowing?Why NOT TO consider batch farrowing?Why NOT TO consider batch farrowing?Other ConsiderationsOther ConsiderationsOther ConsiderationsOther ConsiderationsBatch conversionsBatch conversionsHormonal interventionSlide Number 17Hormonal interventionHormonal interventionHormonal interventionWhile feeding Regumate…Managing Gilt Pool Batching4 gilts…which ones are cycling?4-week batchingThe Set-up…4-week batching considerationsSlide Number 274-week batching considerations2-week Batching2-wk�Batch2-week batch5 week batching5 week batching considerations��6-week (or 3-week stagger)So what’s it all add up to?So what’s it all add up to?SummarySummary

Banff Pork Seminar 2019Combining multiple weeks of production into 1 larger group • # of weeks...

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