Coalface adoption of reproductive strategies.

What can we learn from Australia’s Target 25 program?

Paul HughesPrincipal Scientist – Pigs & Poultry

South Australian Research & Development Institute.

What did we do in Target 25 ?

Based on a combined on-farm, off-farm team approach

Targets only one measure of herd performance

The team decides what changes will be implemented

Changes are subjected to a 6-month trial period

Final changes are locked in for 1 year

Performance change measured against pre-Target 25 level

Target 25 results

Trait

Farrowing rate (%)

Litter size (TB)

T25 improvement

6.6%

0.8

What did we learn from Target 25 ?

Many herds are performing very poorly

Target 25 start data

Farrowing rate %

Litter size (born)

SB & PWM %

Litter size weaned

Target

87+

12+

<13

10.4

Worst

58

9.6

23.9

7.7

What did we learn from Target 25 ?

Many herds are performing very poorly

What is happening at the coalface is rarely what management thinks is happening

What did we learn from Target 25 ?

Many herds are performing very poorly

What is happening at the coalface is rarely what management thinks is happening

Most of the problems are attributable to 2 issues:Lack of good informationFailure to pay attention to detail

Q. Where did most Q. Where did most Target 25 herds fail ?Target 25 herds fail ?

A. Everywhere !A. Everywhere !

1. Gilt management

• Inadequate/no use of boar stimulation

• Use of young or low stimulus value boars

• Use of Regumate on pre-pubertal & grouped gilts

• Underfeeding

• Assumed cyclicity – many pubertal matings

• Overcrowded

• Low gilt cull rates

Suggested Gilt Management Framework

Select gilts at 22-23 weeks

& 100kg+

Start dailyboar contact

at 25-28 weeks

Mate gilts at 30-34 weeks

Cull unmatedgilts at 34 weeks

2. Weaned sow management

• Early weaned (<19-21 days)

• Weaned in poor condition

• Underfed after weaning

• Housed in fenceline contact with boars

• Overcrowded

3. Heat detection

• Inadequate facilities poor boar contact

• Poor technique – no BPT or BPT/no boar

• Use of low stimulus value boars

4. Timing of mating/AI

• First mating/AI too early

• Repeating mating/AI every 12 hours

• Many late (post ovulatory) matings/AIs

5. Boar management

• Under-use & occasional overuse

• Underfeeding

• Use of old boars

• Little checking on fertility/fecundity

6. AI management

• Poor semen storage conditions – temp. & turning

• Use of old semen

• Poor boar control during AI

• Catheter removal & sow movement too early

• No record of quality of inseminator

• Inseminator fatigue (larger herds only)

7. Gestation management

• Mixing & others stresses in early gestation

• Overfeeding & underfeeding

• Poor return checking – timing & boar presence

• Poor PDs – timing, equipment & technique

What Causes Regular & Irregular Returns ?

Mating FarrowingDay 11 Day 17-19

What Causes Regular & Irregular Returns ?

Mating FarrowingDay 11 Day 17-19

Am I pregnant ?

What Causes Regular & Irregular Returns ?

Mating FarrowingDay 11 Day 17-19

Am I stillpregnant ?

Some “Rules” on Regular & Irregular Returns

• Ratio of 3:6 week returns must be more

than 4:1

• Ratio of regular:irregular returns must be

more than 3:1

Better heat detection in dry sows

<25

4%

60%

Returns profile (days after breeding)

25-38

12%

20%

39-45

29%

15%

>45

55%

5%

A profile I’ve seen

Optimal profile

•Not using boars for heat detection

•Relying on ultrasound pregnancy checks at ~4 weeks

7. Farrowing management

• No farrowing induction or night shifts

• Slow intervention with farrowing problems (25-45+ m.)

• Inappropriate use of oxytocin

• Lack of routines for assistance at farrowing

8. Lactation management

• Inadequate cleaning procedures (wet floors etc.)

• Not using shift suckling (labour)

• Little use of second heat sources

• Poor cross-fostering technique

• Sows entering farrowing house in variable condition

• Inadequate feed intakes in lactation

• Poor/variable sow condition at weaning

Target 25 - Conclusions There is great variation in performance between herds with most

Australian breeding herds performing well below their potential

Raising breeding herd performance is mainly a result of attention to known details (N.B. not always known to breeding herd staff) rather than the application of new knowledge - i.e. this isn’t rocket science

To achieve lasting performance improvements requires the real involvement of breeding herd staff:

They must gain extra knowledge They must believe the changes will work

Thank you