Sow pregnancy scan in a trice
Sow pregnancy scan in a trice
A SCANNER with visor-image is overcoming the physical difficulties of sow pregnancy diagnosis in loose housing for one producer.
Lancashire pig producer Keith Shea, who runs a 200-sow herd and finishing unit at Cherry Tree Farm, Kirkham, near Preston, says the scanner takes two to three seconds to confirm a pregnancy.
"We are moving into a new era of sow management but pregnancy diagnosis of loose housed sows is proving difficult using the audio-type Doppler system.
"We have gone from a situation where sows were confined and stationary to one where sows are mobile and active, both on indoor and outdoor systems, and accurate pregnancy diagnosis is proving more difficult," says Mr Shea.
The battery-operated visual scanner now used by Mr Shea provides an image on the virtual reality style visor. This design enables the operator to divert his eye to the scanning point – just above the second teat on the underside of the sows stomach – before glancing into the visor to assess the image.
"Its quick and efficient, and physically much easier with the visor than having the type of system that portrays the image on a separate miniature screen."
Mr Shea, who is now offering the service to other north-west pig producers, scans at 21 days after service and again 21 days later.
"A lot of pig producers have abandoned pregnancy testing since sows have been loose housed but records are showing an increase in the number of empty days.
"When sows were stalled it was easy to detect one which was back on heat or showing a discharge. Its not so easy when sows are outside or running loose on straw."
Mr Shea has just scanned one herd where fluid produced by the bladder was masking that of the uterine artery liquid and distorting pregnancy diagnosis.
"The owner had assumed that all 21 sows in one batch were in pig; the visual scanner proved that three were empty."
PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS
• Used hand-held scanner.
• Picture on visor rather than screen.
• Quicker and easier.
The battery-operated scanner and visor-image makes pregnancy diagnosis easier, says Keith Shea.