This page provides articles on sow mangement.
Sow management
Latest article
Controlling Time of Farrowing: Why, When, and How?
Why?
Do farm records indicate an intervention level for apparent stillbirths (eg. ³10%) or is neonatal mortality too high? Problems during parturition may result in anoxia, which may kill piglets or may be non-lethal but result in poorer viability that pre-disposes to piglet neonatal mortality. In either case, increased supervision of piglet delivery is needed. If supervision is not performed there is no purpose in inducing farrowing.
Do farm records indicate an intervention level for apparent stillbirths (eg. ³10%) or is neonatal mortality too high? Problems during parturition may result in anoxia, which may kill piglets or may be non-lethal but result in poorer viability that pre-disposes to piglet neonatal mortality. In either case, increased supervision of piglet delivery is needed. If supervision is not performed there is no purpose in inducing farrowing.
Perhaps the most important reason to supervise farrowing is colostrum management. Pigs that are born weak, or become chilled, or pigs born into a very large litter may not receive... read more »
More articles
Gilt management
The output of the breeding herd is weaned pigs, and the factor most affecting the consistency of weaned pig or breeding output is meeting targets. The ability to meet breeding targets is controlled by the availability of service-ready weaned sows and gilt and gilt pool management drives availability of sufficient cyclic gilt. read more >
Investigating fertility problems in sows
Maximum piglet litter size is limited by the number of eggs released during estrus (ovulation rate), while the actual litter size is determined by how many of these eggs are fertilized (fertilization rate) and the proportion of fertilized eggs that survive to term (embryonic and fetal survival). If fertilization rate is too low or very few embryos survive, the sows will return to estrus and farrowing rate will be reduced. read more >
Hormonal control and manipulation of oestrus and ovulation
The factor having the greatest impact on weaned pig output is the number of sows bred successfully, ie ., Meeting the targets breeding, which requires a good supply of service-ready weaned sows and gilt. Sow availability is controlled by Largely predictable wean-to-estrus intervals, which may require Exogenous hormonal intervention. Gilt pool management drives the availability of a sufficient number of cyclic gilt, which in turn also adds ability to predict the breeding program. This article will discuss management strategies to control estrus in sows and gilt, and control of the time of ovulation. read more >
Managing seasonal infertility in sows
The underlying cause of seasonal infertility of sows must involve an adverse effect on ovarian corpora luteal function. The net effect is that the corpora lutea of a sub-population of sows become more sensitive to stressful environmental conditions. The trigger for seasonal infertility in these susceptible sows is controversial, with arguments made for elevated temperatures and for long / decreasing photoperiods. read more >
Non-productive days in sows
Sows and gilt are considered productive if they are pregnant or lactate. Therefore, a non-productive day (NPD) is any day a sow (or a gilt once entered into the breeding herd) is not pregnant or nursing a litter. read more >
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