Better by the batch
Better by the batch
By Marianne Curtis
FOLLOWING a herd breakdown caused by blue ear (PRRS) several years ago, a radical management rethink was instigated by one North Yorks-based pig breeding company.
But negative has been turned into positive and a move from continuous to batch farrowing has brought daily liveweight gain increases of 15% and a 4% improvement in feed conversion efficiency at Newsham Hybrid Pigs boar nucleus herd, based at High Penhowe, near Burythorpe, North Yorks.
The company experienced a depression in performance following infection with the disease, a situation reflected on many infected units, it believes. But group production manager, Mark Mason, says that three weekly batch farrowing – introduced two years ago – improved things.
"Batch farrowing allows groups of pigs to be housed in separate air spaces throughout their lives. Disinfection and pressure washing is carried out between each batch from farrowing to dispatch. This reduces risk of cross contamination between batches in the event of a disease outbreak."
Performance has also improved significantly since the change, with daily liveweight gains increasing from 708g to 814g and feed conversion efficiency from 2.25 to 2.16. Medicine costs have decreased by 50p a pig and mortality has fallen by 1% from weaning to slaughter.
But these changes have meant labour redistribution for the units six staff and putting dividing walls in two of the units sheds at a cost of £3,500.
"Because larger numbers of sows are being farrowed or served at the same time, we have moved away from staff specialising in one particular aspect of the production cycle. They now have a mix of skills," says Mr Mason.
Closer attention to particular aspects of the production cycle has brought rewards and the unit has seen a 5% improvement in conception rates since moving to the batch system.
Giving attention to gilts is important at service for the unit to achieve its target of 54 litters born every three weeks. They are fed an ad lib diet and boars are introduced twice a day during stimulation periods only, as the herd is 100% AI. Synchronising sows is easier as they come into oestrus soon after weaning.
"At the time of pregnancy testing, when we are over target, low genetic status animals are culled so that we can guarantee numbers to farrow," explains Mr Mason. When farrowing space does come under pressure, multi suckling is used to free up crates.
Each batch of 54 sows and gilts farrow within a week. "No prostaglandins are used to synchronise farrowing. Careful attention to timing service means the whole batch farrows naturally within a week."
However, with high numbers farrowing over a short period, processing litters can prove a challenge. "As a breeding herd, it takes one person 30 minutes to process a litter as extensive recording and tattooing must be carried out.
"But as no service is happening during the farrowing period, more staff are available for litter processing. In batch farrowing commercial herds, litter processing only takes five to 10 minutes so should be simpler," adds Mr Mason.
Piglets are weaned at four-weeks-old, allowing 10 days in which to pressure wash farrowing accommodation and get the next batch of sows in five days prior to farrowing, he says.
"Piglets enter nursery accommodation where they stay for six weeks until they reach 30kg. They continue to move through the unit as batches until slaughter at 88-100 kg or selection for breeding," says Mr Mason.
BATCH FARROWING
• Reduces disease impact.
• Improves growth and fce.
• Labour redistribution required.
BENEFITS
• Reduces disease impact.
• Improves growth and FCE.
• Labour redistribution required.
Batch farrowing at Newsham Hybrid Pigs boar nucleus unit has improved liveweight gains and feed conversion efficiency, says Mark Mason (inset).