Target pig weaning weight of 8kg ensures better lifetime performance

Pig farmers should be looking to use average weaning weight as their primary objective rather than size of litter to maximise sow lifetime performance, say experts.

Research by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough, found pigs born light but weaned heavy outperform heavy birthweight pigs that are weaned light.

This has important implications for the current pig population in the UK as the numbers of pigs born light has increased as litter sizes have grown.

See also: Gilt management boost pig numbers in Northern Ireland

Mark Hawe, pig adviser to the Department of Agriculture in Northern Ireland, says that while litter size is very important, the research confirms average weaning weights are the new primary objective, not pig numbers.

He suggests farmers should target a weaning weight of 8kg a pig and a minimum of 95kg/litter.

“Instead of aiming solely for large litters, which can lead to some very small piglets at birth, there will be a better lifetime performance by focusing on larger weaning weights,” says Dr Hawe.

He believes this can be achieved through good management.

Gilt weight

Dr Hawe recommends not serving a gilt weighing less than 150kg liveweight, to ensure she is able to feed her piglets, and using gilts as foster mothers.

“Gilts will display both rows of teats when lying down and the teats are more prominent and easier for piglets to grasp. Therefore gilts make ideal foster mothers. But the temptation is to foster too many piglets on to gilts, meaning the gilts get plundered and are often oversucked.”

Sows should not be oversucked either. The size of the litter should match the sow’s ability to produce milk, he adds.

Both sows and gilts should be in good condition coming into the farrowing house – well-fleshed but not fat. A condition score of 3 is recommended.

Feeding

Feed intakes should also increase gradually after farrowing. “A good target is 7kg within the first 10 days as long as the sow does not stall. This should be increased to a target of 10kg by whatever means possible,” says Dr Hawe.

A good nutritionist is integral to formulating the correct ration, he adds. “There are good products out there to top up rations. Top dressing with extra glucose or an energy booster pays off.”

Temperature control

Lowering the temperature of the farrowing house is one of the easiest changes that can be made to make a difference to sow intake and piglet weaning weights.

Dr Hawe suggests “ruthlessly” reducing air temperature in the farrowing house 24 hours after the last sow in the room farrows to about 18C, with snug areas in place so piglets are not chilled.

“Snugs or creeps are regaining popularity. They can be a hassle because the pigs are not as visible, but this is a small problem compared to the growth rates that can be achieved with a cooler air temperature.”

Fresh water is important, too. “Nothing will knock milk flow more than stale water and a sow shouldn’t have to work to get water,” adds Dr Hawe.

Case study: Keith Telford, County Tyrone

County Tyrone pig producer Keith Telford has a system in place to maximise the weaning weights of light birthweight pigs by grouping piglets of similar weights.

“We take the smaller piglets from each litter and have them feeding together on a foster mother because the smaller ones tend to get bullied,’’ he explains.

Lighter piglets are matched with gilts as it is more difficult for a small piglet to suckle a sow because of her larger teats.

Conversely, the biggest piglets born to gilts are matched with a sow.

See also: Lactation management top of agenda at pig conference

Mr Telford weans an average of 350 pigs a week. He currently doesn’t weigh at weaning, preferring visual selection.

On weaning day he selects the 12 smallest piglets and puts them to suckle a cull sow for an additional two weeks. “It makes a big difference, we get fantastic pigs,’’ he reports.

Piglets are started on creep from day six while sows are fed a high-spec ration, peaking at 11kg three weeks after farrowing.

Sows are fed three times a day because they were not eating a sufficient quantity during twice-a-day feeding. In addition to a 7.30am and 4.30pm feed, they now get a top-up at midday.

“We can feed each sow individually, so if there is no feed left in her trough she gets a top-up,’’ he says.

Mr Telford mixes his own feed and believes the sows benefit from the addition of fishmeal.

“It is the best thing they can have for milk production,’’ he says.