Edge. Danbred. The. Livingston Enterprises... A Study in Persistence and Commitment. Volume 1 Issue 1 May 2006

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1 The Volme 1 Isse 1 May 2006 Edge Livingston Enterprises... A Stdy in Persistence and Commitment Jefferson Conty, Neb., pork prodcer Brce Livingston is a poster child for how hard work and nyielding persistence pays off. At age 36, Livingston is the owner of Livingston Enterprises, Inc., a 6,200-sow breed-towean operation in Fairbry, Neb., and is argably one of the most efficient pork prodcers in the contry. Bt nlike many pork prodcers, Livingston always wanted to be a pork prodcer. I started in the hog bsiness when I was eight years old, Livingston recalls with a smile. I started with six breeding females that I prchased from money earned working for my dad, ncles and a gilt that I won in a jdging show, and I knew right then this was my life s dream. By the time he was a senior in high school in 1987, he was p to 150 sows. When profits allowed him, he gradally expanded his operation. By 1995 he had grown to 600 sows farrow-to-finish. In 1996 he realized the need for highqality, single-sorce Isowean pigs and qickly converted his 600-sow operation to all breed-to-wean and expanded his operation to 2,200 sows. Following the sccess of his Isowean bsiness, Livingston once again expanded in 1997 to 3,200 sows, and by 2000 had bilt the herd to 5,200 sows. Now in 2006, he crrently sits at 6,200 sows. From a qick review of his bsiness, one wold qickly srmise that he is a sccess story. Bt Livingston will be the first to tell yo he has a lot more left to accomplish in his pork enterprise and sitting back on his sccess is not one of them. A good example is his recent expansion. Livingston has added a new 8,000-head finishing site where he finishes abot 10% to 15% of his own prodction. In the spring of 2007, Livingston is planning on breaking grond for a new 5,000-head sow nit. Within five years he hopes to expand his operation to 20,000 sows. Bt Livingston will qickly remind yo that it hasn t always been a dream to keep the wheels from falling off his ventre. Like all pork prodcers, I was faced with challenges, the prodcer notes. For my operation the biggest challenge came in the form of PRRS. I basically had the same herd of mixed genotypes and genetics for 24 years. I started to see my operation s prodction drop de to heterosis isses and the introdction of PRRS strains and secondary diseases. While my staff and I did a good job of keeping PRRS from affecting or sow herd, the disease started to weigh heavily in the nrsery stages for my Isowean cstomers. Early in 1996, a rep dropped off 10 bags of semen for me to try in the herd, recalls Livingston. I was impressed almost immediately with the reslts. They were heads above what I was accomplishing with my mixed genetics herd. The next thing I know, I m p at their boar std toring their lab, discssing their research methods, prodction data and selection criteria. It s not very often that yo find a company that has the same bsiness directives as yo do, Livingston adds. They are focsed on improving sow prodction and overall throghpt costs from the breeding gilt to the finishing animal. This bsiness directive helped me decide to convert my entire herd over to genetics. also has great staff to work with, he adds. They ve changed their selection rate so that 70% of their selection is based on pig srvivability at Day 5. That s critical to my bsiness. I like the fact that their R&D is driven off of cost-of-prodction from the breeding gilts to the market hog. They re looking at every part of prodction. That s critical to me now and in the ftre. Livingston also notes that it was their prolific breeding animals that ltimately drew him to. The prodction nmbers I ve seen are impressive, the prodcer notes. The key to my operation s sccess is having more pigs born live. I was looking for the genetics that wold not only prodce more born-live pigs, Contined on page 6

2 s New Maternal Line Objective s maternal line selection objective has inclded litter size at birth (liveborn + stillborn) for more than 10 years. Dring this period, the average response in the two maternal breeds has been over 0.3 pigs per year, reslting in a three-pig improvement in litter size. In recent years, the rate of preweaning mortality and stillborn has increased reslting in a diminishing response to pigs weaned as litter size at birth contined to rise. To address this isse, the Sper Sow project was initiated to examine several selection criteria that cold better contribte to frther improvement in reprodctive performance. By 2004, traits from over 20,000 litters in the Yorkshire and Landrace breeds had been measred. This data set contines to be evalated, bt the first sefl reslt has been implemented as part of the new maternal line objective. Live pigs at 5 days of age (LP5) have replaced the nmber Figre 1 Droc Hampshire Landrace Yorkshire Figre 2 Droc Hampshire Landrace Yorkshire Nrsery Finishing Dressing Percent 1% FCR Lbs./Day Lbs./Day Lb. Feed/ Lb Nrsery Ncles Line Male Performance Finishing Nrsery 4% Percent Lean Percent Lean Dressing Percent Percent Lean 6% Finishing 1% Conformation 8% Conformation % % Units Litter Size Conformation Lbs./Day Lbs./Day % TNB Units Ncles Line Female Performance By Tom Rathje, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer of flly formed pigs in the maternal selection objective. This trait effectively incorporates pig srvival and litter size into the maternal component of the breeding objective. Becase most pig death occrs within the first five days of life, this trait identifies those sows that are able to prodce large litters of pigs that have the ability to srvive and thrive in the modern prodction environment. This trait has a higher heritability and genetic standard deviation than litter size, reslting in slightly more accrate and intense selection. Now encompassing 70% of the maternal line objective, the expected progress in LP5 is approximately 0.3 live pigs at 5 days of age per year (2004 Annal Report of the National Committee for Pig) (Figre 3). s maternal lines have been historically selected for performance in terminal traits prodcing one of the key advantages of the Danish program: maternal line performance in terminal traits that is eqivalent to or terminal lines (see Figres 1,2). This reality is important for or cstomers sing internal programs or dedicated mltiplication. The reslt is no loss in slaghter vale de to the prodction of maternal barrows and improved consistency among terminal pigs. We have also initiated selection for yield in or maternal lines, which will reslt in frther positive impact on the terminal performance of their progeny. The Danish selection program contines to seek to provide vale to or cstomers throgh improving the efficiency of their prodction systems. Throgh larger litters of pigs with niform growth that consistently prodce excellent carcass qality, the program provides indstry-leading genetic potential for throghpt of carcass weight, the primary economic driver in commercial swine prodction. LP5 70% FCR 10% Figre 3 32 The Edge

3 3 The Edge 3 What is this New Syndrome Called Porcine Circovirs Disease By Thomas G. Gillespie, D.V.M. Rensselaer Swine Service, P.C. Across the hog belt, something new presentation of the clinical signs is what is is being discssed by prodcers and being labeled as new PMWS. Mortality veterinarians. The syndrome, called rates in late nrsery and early finisher flows Porcine Circovirs Diseases, is most are dobled in most cases and, in a few often observed in pigs from 8 to 16 instances, mortality rates over 20% have weeks of age and is best described as a been docmented. So why are more severe loss of condition or wasting. Dr. John clinical presentations of this disease being Harding (practitioner) and Dr. Ted Clark noticed now? This and other qestions (pathologist) were the first individals to were discssed at the recent AASV detail this economic devastating syndrome meeting where veterinarians, researchers in the literatre arond It was first and speakers from arond the world observed in western Canada bt has detailed nmeros aspects of the disease. since been docmented in nearly every Althogh a definitive agent has not been swine-prodcing contry in the world. identified for PCVD, many managerial Drs. Harding and Clark pt a name on and infectios risk factors are recognized. the syndrome that illstrates the clinical One notable fact is that PCV 2 is in aspects. It has been called Postweaning nearly all swine nits and boar stds. Mltisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) Becase of this, searching for a PCV 2- ever since. In recent years with the help of naïve sorce of breeding stock or semen thorogh diagnostic approaches and better is nearly impossible. If this syndrome is diagnostic tests, Porcine Circovirs type sspected in a grop of animals, the first 2 (PCV 2) has been identified as being step is to work with yor veterinarian associated with the syndrome. Althogh to ensre an accrate diagnosis. There few researchers and diagnosticians feel are many pathogens that are associated that PCV 2 is the only case of the clinical with similar clinical signs; therefore, an signs, PCV 2 has, by itself, cased a accrate diagnosis is important to obtain. wasting condition in research facilities. To be sre that a proper diagnosis is made, PCV 2 and PMWS have been present the pathology report will state that PCV in the U.S. swine prodction flows since 2 antigen is present in the tisse samples the late 1990s. A more severe form of along with a granlomatos inflammation, the disease has been lymphoid depletion and inclsion bodies. reported in eastern Gross lesions will inclde, bt not be Canada since limited to, a combination of gastric lcers, late enlarged lymph nodes, pale color, enlarged This more kidneys and even skin lesions. Mch less severe commonly associated diseases inclde PCV 2-associated enteritis, abortion and Porcine Dermatitis and Nephropathy Syndrome (PDNS). Besides a wasting condition of the animal, the other most common clinical observation is a respiratory problem. Once the diagnosis has confirmed PCVD, a list of changes can be discssed and implemented with the help of yor veterinarian to redce the clinical severity of the disease. One of the more important aspects is to identify and control any concrrent infection. One of the more common co-infections is PRRS virs. Other pathogens like swine inflenza virs, salmonella, Haemophils parasis, mycoplasma and parvovirs have been identified as co-infections that contribte to more severe problems. Another isse is timing of when vaccinations are given to the pigs. It is recommended to vaccinate pigs five to seven weeks before the clinical signs are observed. A more intense antibiotic therapy may be needed to control secondary bacterial infections that may be active dring a critical time of the disease. Enhanced ntritional diets, higher levels of Vitamin E and additional spplementation of selenim have also been listed as beneficial in some cases. Management isses that are associated with redcing the impact of this problem are to adhere to strict all-in/all-ot (AI/ AO) flow, stop mixing and resorting of animals after placement into a pen, improve stocking density and evalate the environment. Proper cleaning and disinfecting will also help. Many of the commonly sed disinfectants will redce the PCV 2 virs with proper application. Removing the animal early in the expression of a problem from the general poplation or even from the site has helped redce mortality in a few case reports. The American Association of Swine Veterinarians has taken a leadership role in forming a task force with combined efforts of the National Pork Board and USDA to help veterinarians and prodcers manage throgh this problem. In addition, the task force will help inflence the approval of a commercial vaccine and how research dollars need to be directed towards PCVD and this new syndrome. There are many aspects of this syndrome that have not been researched which cold help control the spread and redce the economic severity of the syndrome for swine prodcers.

4 Proper Management of Nrsing Sows Assres Increased Pig Srvivability By John P. Sonderman, Ph.D. Technical Services Manager North America In Denmark, The National Committee for Pig Prodction is in charge of all research on the pig. De to the fact that swine prodcers serve on the board, has a niqe focs on the isses that most affect prodcers. In the recently pblished 2005 Annal Report, they looked at different methods of cross-fostering. sows have the genetic potential to prodce extremely large litters. Cross-fostering and nrsing sows are, therefore, reqired if mortality is to be kept at an acceptable level. Sows are able to rear 13 pigs withot affecting mortality, bt weaning weight drops with increasing litter size (Table 1). Colostrm Intake Pigs are born with few antibodies in their blood; they depend on the sow s colostrm to obtain maternal antibodies. Therefore, it is crcial that all pigs have access to the dder and that they are not moved ntil they have consmed sfficient colostrm. Pigs cannot be moved ntil six hors after birth. The small pigs have more difficlty getting to the teats and they shold have a minimm of 12 hors to consme colostrm before they are moved. If in dobt as to whether a piglet has received sfficient colostrm, 30-ml milked colostrm can be administered divided into three feedings. How to Make a Nrse Sow A nrse sow weans her own pigs after a minimm of 21 days of lactation and then receives a new litter of pigs. Either the nrsing sow is given excess newborn pigs and called a one-step nrsing sow, or she is given 4- to 7-day-old pigs from another sow and called an intermediate sow. The sow providing the 4- to 7-day-old pigs then becomes a two-step nrsing sow to the excess newborn pigs (Table 2). A trial showed that two-step nrsing sows more readily accept the new pigs compared with one-step nrsing sows. This redced mortality and increased weaning weight (Table 3). In the same trial, it was investigated whether the pigs that were moved to an intermediate sow to make a two-step nrsing sow were affected by the move. This was not the case. It is recommended to se two-step nrsing sows for newborn pigs. The trial also investigated whether the pigs cold handle being transferred to a nrsing sow. Pigs that stayed with the sows and pigs that were moved to two-step nrsing sows had the same mortality and weaning weight. Mortality was higher among pigs that were moved to one-step nrsing sows. Another trial compared the ability of first-parity sows with higher-parity sows to be nrsing sows. The first-parity sows performed better than the higher-parity sows. A first-parity sow was compared with a second-parity sow, and there were no differences in prodctivity when the for replicates in the trial were compared. It is, therefore, possible that both first-parity sows and second-parity sows wold make sitable nrsing sows The longer the sow is separated from pigs, the greater the risk that she will forget the smell of the pigs and the dder will be more charged with milk. In one trial, the sows were separated from pigs for two of 18 hors before they were given nrsing pigs. Weaning weight was lower if the sow had been 18 hors withot pigs before receiving the nrsing pigs. Mortality did not vary in this small stdy. Nrsing sows are often needed in the herds, bt the sows mst rear as many of their own pigs as possible as the nrsing sows take p space in the farrowing nit. If yo wold like more information on this topic, please contact. Table 1 Effect of 11 or 13 Pigs in the Litter Nmber of Piglets Transferred Weaned/Litter Weaning Weight, Lb. A, B Significant Difference A B Table 2 Schematic Otline of One-Step and Two-Step Nrsing Sows in a Herd with a For-Week Lactation Period Week One-Step Nrsing Sow Two-Step Nrsing Sow Sow No. 1 farrows Sow No. 2 farrows Sow No. 3 farrows Sow No. 1 weans her piglets and receives day-old nrsing piglets. Sow No. 2 weans her piglets and receives the piglets from sow No. 3. Sow No. 3 receives day-old nrsing piglets. Table 3 Nrsing Piglets with One-Step or Two-Step Nrsing Sows Nrsing Sow Piglets Added Per Litter Weaned/Litter One-Step A Two-Step B Weaning Weight, Lb. Per Pig 12.1 A 14.1 B A, B Significant Difference The piglets with sow No. 2 are weaned. The piglets with sow No. 1 are weaned. The piglets with sow No. 3 are weaned. 34 The Edge

5 241 Parent Female Lanches New Parent Female North America has always maintained that 30+ pigs/ sow/year is an obtainable goal with their Danish genetics. Danish pork prodcers have been delivering these nmbers for more than five years. A new step in helping North American pork prodcers reach this goal, has introdced the newest parent female to their extensive breeding line 241 Parent Female. This new F1 female is the direct clmination of more than 100 years of breeding selection, states John Sonderman, Ph.D., Technical Services Manager at NA. We know that females in a herd mst consistently wean large litters and rebreed qickly after each weaning to achieve 30+ pigs/sow/year. It is or experience that the ability of some Danish prodcers to wean 30+ pigs/sow/year is driven primarily throgh their se of sperior maternal genetics and well-edcated and dedicated personnel, Dr. Sonderman contines. Ntrition and good health also plays a hge spporting role in allowing the animals to reach their tre reprodctive potential. However, it comes down to having the right type of breeding female that has the proven genetic potential to reach these weaning nmbers. The 241 is that female. Dr. Sonderman notes, The 241 is a direct reslt of a disciplined selection program. More important, all traits are constantly monitored and measred. We place an economic vale on every trait selected. Becase it s a system owned by swine prodcers, we are selecting traits that make swine prodcers more money. Unlike a lot of genetic companies that se a trial-and-error approach to meeting cstomer genetic needs, Dr. Sonderman concldes, has been selecting the same animals for more than 100 years. This makes or programs highly consistent. Or cstomers know exactly what the animal is capable of doing in their specific systems. It comes as no srprise when the 241 prodces 11.5 to 12.5 weaned pigs per litter. A Centry of Qality and Performance The 241 Parent Female is a tre F1 breeding female and is the direct reslt of crossing s highly prolific 200 Yorkshire GP with s docile, efficient 400 Landrace GP. The direct cross prodces the 241 parent female. The benefits of this new genetic cross are seen immediately in prodcer herds: Unparalleled Reprodctive Ability Data from a large U.S. commercial operation shows that the 241 is already prodcing pigs born alive. The 241 retrns to estrs qickly after weaning (~ 4 to 7 days) and consistently prodces a greater nmber of piglets in the sbseqent litter. Enviable Growth and Carcass Characteristics The 241 comes with the genetic potential to grow in excess of 2 lbs. of ADG with greater than 55% lean and 77% yield. Docile Temperament Becase of years of selection in Denmark, the 241 is extremely docile. Prodcers who have first-hand experience with the new breeding female report that she is easy to work with and is a qiet animal, which contribtes to low preweaning mortality. Strctrally Sond and Low Sow Mortality The 241 exhibits solid leg strctre and composition. Prodction data from commercial operations in the United States and Denmark show that the 241 is a highly drable animal that prodces large, strong offspring well into late parities. Health and Biosecrity Unmatched Within the Indstry implements the highest biosecrity standards in the swine indstry. For over a centry, the Danish national breeding program has delivered continos coordinated genetic improvement to commercial prodcers, states NA Chief Exective Officer, Brett Bonwell. The program is centrally controlled, highly disciplined and is focsed on selecting for traits, which leads to more profit to the prodcer. North America is niqe in the swine genetics bsiness in the fact that they are associated with Denmark in the advancement of or genetics program, Bonwell notes. With over 13,000 ncles-breeding females internationally interlinked, North America breeding program encompasses the largest ncles systems in the world. This ensres that selection intensity is maximized and rapid genetic progress is achieved qickly. All of or ncles herds are indexed against the ncles herds in Denmark, giving the largest base of ncles animals in the world. Simply stated, Bonwell srmises, North America is committed to provide proven genetics at the best cost-effective price, reslting in more profitability for yor operation. At, we remain focsed on improving measrable traits that give economic rewards, while keeping an edcated eye towards emerging trends. The 241 is a tre F1 breeding female that prodces strong, viable offspring that efficiently convert feed and grow at astonding rates. For more information or ordering information on the new 241 tre F1 parent female, contact yor representative or call DANBRED. 35 The Edge

6 Livingston contined from page 1 bt also the most thrifty, viable pig possible. That starts for s as good live born weights. has delivered on that factor. I ve managed a lot of different genotypes in my system and feel with or management system we can make most genotypes prodce well for s, he admits. However, these animals consistently give s the live pigs to work with. They are phenomenal. I feel strongly that we have the best animal in the indstry. Livingston recently went throgh a depop/ repop program (fall, 2004) and stayed with throghot the repop program. I had the same herd for 24 years, he admits. Every time I added new animals, the prodction was sffering. Then PRRS came in and started taking or nmbers down. When we broke with a third strain of PRRS, I decided we wold never reach or prodction goals nless we converted to a single-sorced breeding herd. was large enogh to be able to fill my facility in the time line that I wanted. That was critical to s staying on target. Livingston notes that they re jst now farrowing parity three females (and several parity one and two females) and they re already getting p to 27.5 pigs/sow/year. My goal is 30+ pigs/sow/year and I have confidence we can reach that nmber with this sow, Livingston predicts. Danish pork prodcers who are sing these genetics have a history of consistently prodcing 30+ pigs per sow per year. Livingston is in the process (following the repop) of switching over to s new 241 tre F1 (half Large White/half Landrace). Following the repop program with genetics, Livingston Enterprises live-born average is 11.7 and weaning average is arond 11 for a 94% srvival rate. The s 241 line F1 females are having 12 live born and pshing 13, Livingston otlines. Prewean mortality is only 6% vs. the indstry average of 12% to 14%. Livingston adds that he has excellent employees who all work hard to keep improving prodction. He also says a critical eye towards proper management is essential to be able to reach these nmbers. For example, he has invented a farrowing crate that allows the sow to lie down slow and ths redce lay-ons. The operation also employs some excellent cross-fostering programs to maintain piglet livability. According to the prodcer, these management techniqes all play a hge role in their overall prodction nmbers. Livingston adds, I ve jst entered a contract to provide 482 F2 gilts (241 x 241). These are absoltely beatifl gilts. I can confidently say that these F2 gilts wold stand toe-to-toe with most genetic companies F1 gilts. They are trly excellent breeding females that are prodcing consistently large litters. Brce Livingston has established yet another goal for his operation. My goal is to own and oversee the first large-scale farm in North America to consistently raise 30+ pigs, he concldes confidently. Give this operation a year or two to get all F1 females in the herd and I believe we ll reach those nmbers. No one dobts Brce Livingston s prediction or his dedication to making it become a reality. NORTH AMERICA th Street Colmbs, NE PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Kansas City, MO Permit No th Annal 2006 World Pork Expo Bringing the Best Together Des Moines, Iowa, Jne 8-10 Come and visit s in the Varied Indstries Bilding, Booth #330, abot or new 241 Parent Female. This amazing new F1 female is the answer to reaching 30+ pigs per inventoried female a year. 36 The Edge