LOWSTRESS,HIGHSTANDARD
LOWSTRESS,HIGHSTANDARD
GENEROUS space and low stress are the keys to achieving high finisher performance levels on one award-winning Oxon unit.
The 1600-place finisher unit is run by Myles Boddington at Signett Hill Farm, Burford, Oxon. Buildings are old but spacious, and Mr Boddington practises a meticulous hygiene regime.
Enviable performance figures, including a daily liveweight gain of 702g a pig, feed conversion efficiency of 2.21 and cost/kg liveweight gain of 37p meant that Mr Boddington collected this years PIC-Intervet award for best finishing herd performance.
He buys in locally-bred 6-7kg weaners. Pigs are moved four times during their stay on the unit. On arrival they are housed in chalets in the field for a month before being moved into solid floor buildings in groups of 20.
A month later, they are moved to straw yards where they stay for two months until they reach 60-65kg. The final move is to slatted finisher accommodation. Finished pigs are sold at 94-95kg to Meadow Valley Livestock.
Keeping pigs in the same groups reduces stress believes Mr Boddington. "Pigs stay in the same groups from the time they enter the unit. This reduces fighting, keeping stress to a minimum."
Unusually, there is no tail biting on the unit. "Cambac came to the unit to investigate why there is no tail biting. They didnt come up with an answer, but thought that it might be due to low stress levels."
Keeping pigs healthy is important in order to maximise growth rates, says Mr Boddington. All pigs are vaccinated against pneumonia before they enter the unit and he strives to keep on top of hygiene and maintain pig health.
"Empty pens are steam cleaned and not filled for two days. On many units steam-cleaned pens are filled 22-26 hours after cleaning due to limited space." He believes that keeping pens empty for longer helps keep disease at bay.
Good nutrition is also vital to sustain high growth rates, according to Mr Boddington. "Recently the herd suffered a blip in growth rates because the feed manufacturer changed the ration ingredient levels. I have now moved to a fixed formulation." *
PERFORMANCE
• Meticulous hygiene.
• Plenty of space.
• Low stress.
Myles Boddington believes low stress is the key to achieving high finisher performance levels.