AI offers much better value than natural service
Higher genetic merit boars now available through using AI on Mark Haywards unit means pigs finish rapidly, saving about £1 a pig, he says.
AI offers much better value than natural service
AI HAS brought savings of more than £3000 a year to one Suffolk unit, meaning only three AI boars and 10 chaser boars are needed for the 800-sow outdoor herd.
Keeping fewer boars also means higher genetic sires are affordable, producing progeny which reach slaughter weight more quickly.
For the last two years, Mark Hayward has used AI on all his sows. "AI has proved to be much better value than natural service.
"I used to run 35-40 boars including chasers. AI is simpler, you dont have so many boars to feed, which saves cost, and more uniform progeny are produced." (See table).
Semen is collected from three boars on the unit once a week by technician, Jonathan Bradley. It is processed in his mobile laboratory and lasts for between three days and a week.
Chaser boars
Sows are served indoors. "Sows are housed away from boars and run in front of them every day. When they stand still they are ready to serve. Each boar produces sufficient semen to serve 12 sows a week," says Mr Hayward. Any returning sows are picked up by chaser boars.
Mr Hayward believes he has seen a lift in conception rates and numbers born since using AI. Currently the farrowing rate is 85% to first service.
"From time to time we get some trouble, but generally staff pay more attention to getting AI right than supervising natural service," he says.
Because fewer boars are required since the unit switched to AI, higher genetic merit boars can be afforded.
"It is difficult to quantify the value of better genetics. But supposing pigs take four days less to reach slaughter weight, that is a saving of about £1 a pig – £19,000 over the whole herd." *
AI (£) Natural
service (£)
Boars 3750 13,000
Chasers 2500 2500
Feed 441 5145
Semen collection
and processing 9724
AI catheters 884
Total 17,299 20,645