Managing large litters and small piglets

Transcription

1 BPEX Producer events 2014 Managing large litters and small piglets Dr Ian Wellock

2 Danes predict 40 pigs weaned/sow/year!!

3 Is there a benefit to increasing litter size?

4 Is there a benefit to increasing litter size? Boyd (2012)

5 Is there a benefit in increasing litter size? PW Mort L-FVP W-F Mort 1.6 kg Boyd (2012) PWM = pre-weaning mortality W-F DL = Wean to finish mortality Lifetime FVP = lifetime Full Value Pigs

6 Is there a benefit in increasing litter size? 1.6 kg 1.5 kg 1.3 kg 25 p/s/y 30 p/s/y 40 p/s/y Boyd (2012)

7 How many pigs/litter do we want? vs

8 Increasing litter size: small piglets vs. *Piglets from gilt litters -0.2 kg lighter

9 The effect of litter size on number of small pigs 36% 48% +12% smalls 46% 40% 12% 18% Ref. Boyd (2012)

10 Effect of birth weight (kg) on lifetime performance Birth Weight (kg) Prob. Birth Wt (kg) 1.04 a 1.35 b 1.59 c 1.93 d <0.001 Weaning (kg) 5.48 a 6.30 b 7.04 c 7.68 d < wk (kg) 19.9 a 22.0 b 23.6 c 24.6 d < wk (kg) 29.6 a 31.8 b 33.8 c 34.7 d < st Pull (kg) 92.2 a 96.8 b 99.7 c d < Shipping (kg) Days to market 159 a 155 b 152 c 150 d < Birth Wean (kg/d) 0.21 a 0.23 b 0.26 c 0.27 d < Wean 5 wk (kg/d) 0.42 a 0.45 b 0.47 c 0.49 d < wk to market (kg/d) 1.02 a 1.04 b 1.06 bc 1.07 c < Ref: Beaulieu et al. 2010

11 Increasing litter size: birth (wean) weight variation? vs.

12 What is normal wean wt variation? STD = 20% Mean

13 Increasing litter size and # of small pigs 100 sows; 90 kg litter weaned; no mortality No. of pigs/sow Av. wean wt (kg) No. of piglets No. < 7 kg No. < 6 kg No. < 5 kg

14 Rearing large litters (small piglets) Q. Shall we just cull small birth weight piglets?

15 Not all small s a lost cause Pigs born light but weaned heavy can do well! Weight (kg) LL LH HL HH Runts Birth Weaning wks 15.1 a 18.0 d 16.7 c 20.7 e 11.8 a 10 wks 27,6 b 31.2 c 30.4 c 39.2 d 21.6 a 20 wks 87.6 b 93.8 c 90.0 b 98.6 d 68.1 a P2 (mm) 12.4 bc 12.8 c 11.8 ab 11.4 a 14.9 d Fed 3 kg Starter 1, 6 kg Starter 2 Ref: Magowan. 2013

16 Q. What strategies do you use for large litters? Split suckling Nurse Sows Milk systems Creep feeding

17 Use of artificial milk systems

18 Pre-weaning creep feeding

19 Cumulative creep feed intake (g/piglet) BPEX Producer event 2014: Managing large litters and small piglets Creep feed consumption Don t expect large intakes pre-weaning! to to to to to 28 Ref: Bruininx et al 2002

20 ADG Post-Wean (g/day) BPEX Producer event 2014: Managing large litters and small piglets Why creep feed? To increase post-weaning performance Later Weaning - 28 days Feed Regime Ref. Subalo et al. (2010) Ref. Bruininx el al. (2002)

21 Percent of pigs eating creep BPEX Producer event 2014: Managing large litters and small piglets Stimulating intake: Introduce earlier Creep - From Day 7 Creep - From Day 14 Ref: Sulabo el al 2008

22 % of group eating BPEX Producer event 2014: Managing large litters and small piglets Stimulating intake: Use high quality diets Light Pigs Middle Pigs Heavy Pigs Light Pigs Middle Pigs Heavy Pigs SIMPLE FEED COMPLEX FEED Ref: Sulabo el al 2010

23 Stimulating intake: Q. Heat matt or feeder? Meal, pellet or crumb?

24 Visits BPEX Producer event 2014: Managing large litters and small piglets Why do eaters perform better post-weaning? Improved Post-Weaning Feed Intake % of Pigs Consuming Feed after Weaning a Visit with Feed Intake (8 h post-wean) Eaters 8 b b Non Eaters 6 No Creep Rel Diff (%) FI (24 h after first intake) Eater Non Eater No Creep 213% 100% 117% Ref: Bruininx et al 2002

25 Why do eaters perform better post-weaning: Improved microbiology and immune function? trillion organisms (1. 5 kg) bacterial species 10x more bacteria than host cells 100x more bacterial then host genes Metabolic functions including nutrient digestion Disease resistance (e.g. salmonella, E. coli) Immune function

26 Why do eaters perform better post-weaning: Improved microbiology and immune function? 40% of UK sows outdoor production system

27 The effect of indoor or outdoor weaning on subsequent performance # trials Length (days) Wean wt (kg) ADG (g/d) ADFI FCR Indoor Outdoor Ref: Miller et al 2008

28 Microbial Profile (%) Indoor v Outdoor Reared (Pigs at Day 56) Less Microflora Diversity in Outdoor Pigs Mudler et al, 2009

29 Weight (kg) BPEX Producer event 2014: Managing large litters and small piglets Creep feed can impact lifetime performance Earlier Start...Earlier Finish kg at slaughter OR 5 days less to reach market weight!! kg at nursery exit Average Start of creep feeding Weaning Top 3rd Bottom 3rd I4 Control I4 or Standard Creep All pigs fed identical diets Age (days) Primary Diets, Harper Adams, 2012

30 Early Wean Systems (requires veterinary direction in UK!)

31 Rattlerow-Quality Equipment early wean nursery Pig World, Sep 2013

32 Rattlerow-Quality Equipment early wean nursery 700 sow unit: 2 containers: 3 pens (3 x 2m): 25 piglets/pen: ( 9500/container) Wean 2-3 best litters at 8 days of age into system (creates nurse sows) Wean at normal age with other piglets (>9 kg BW) < 8% pre-weaning mortality (28.9 w/s/y) Other container used for smalls post-weaning (16 days) Feed regime: Milk powder(supple-milk): 0 to d 7-10 Crumbed feed (Easiflow # 2): 0 to d Starter feed (PS 25): 7 days pre-weaning

33 Piglet Crate (Knox Box)

34 Piglet Crate (Knox Box) 13 sows/week; 6 crates (1 crate per 10 litters) Wean a strong litter at d to free a nurse sow for smalls and excess Exit at 28 doa Results Start weight (11 doa) = 3.6 kg; end weight (30 doa) = 8.15 kg 0.4 kg Initiate 4, 4.5 kg Ultra Gain: ADG = 239 g/d, FCR = /pig feed cost + 2/pig labour + electric Margin 2800/year ( 37/pig market value) No mortality; thrive in flat decks

35 Early weaned and left in the crate/pen Practiced on numerous units Various ages (day 4 to 21 of age) Various feeders Transition feeders/bowls/troughs Various drinkers Cube/nipples/bowls Various weaning ages Younger/same age/older (+ 7 days) Various feed regimes Milk powders/specialist creeps/stage 1 diets

36 Feeding small piglets post-weaning 22 day old (12.2 kg)

37 How best to feed piglets Correct amount of correct diet to correct pigs! Optimal nutrition: safeguard piglet health and performance without adding intolerable cost (maximise on-farm profitability)

38 How much to feed? Wean weight important but so is weight off starter! Wean Weight (kg) Starter Feed (kg) kg Wean weight, kg

39 How much to feed? Wean weight important but so is weight off starter! Wean Weight Diet 1 Diet kg Wean weight, kg kg:

40 Feeding small birth (wean) weight piglets Small Birth Weight (kg) Wean weight (Day 28) (kg) Lysine % /t Diet A (kg/pig) Diet B (kg/pig) Diet C (kg/pig) Weaner (kg/pig) Total starter (kg/pig) [Diet A + B + C] Total feed (kg/pig) Douglas et al., 2014

41 Feeding small birth (wean) weight piglets Small Birth Weight (kg) Wean weight (Day 28) (kg) Lysine % /t Diet A (kg/pig) Diet B (kg/pig) Diet C (kg/pig) Weaner (kg/pig) Total starter (kg/pig) [Diet A + B + C] Total feed (kg/pig) PERFORMANCE Day 70 weight (kg) Gain d (kg) ADG d (kg/d) ADFI d (kg/d) FCR d Douglas et al., 2014

42 Feeding small birth (wean) weight piglets Small Birth Weight (kg) Wean weight (Day 28) (kg) Lysine % /t Diet A (kg/pig) Diet B (kg/pig) Diet C (kg/pig) Weaner (kg/pig) Total starter (kg/pig) [Diet A + B + C] Total feed (kg/pig) PERFORMANCE Day 70 weight (kg) Gain d (kg) ADG d (kg/d) ADFI d (kg/d) FCR d ECONOMICS Starter feed cost ( /pig) [Diet A + B + C] Total feed cost ( /pig) Cost/kg gain ( ) /kg DW

43 Feeding small birth (wean) weight piglets Small Big Birth Weight (kg) Wean weight (Day 28) (kg) Lysine % /t Diet A (kg/pig) Diet B (kg/pig) Diet C (kg/pig) Weaner (kg/pig) Total starter (kg/pig) [Diet A + B + C] Total feed (kg/pig) PERFORMANCE Day 70 weight (kg) Gain d (kg) ADG d (kg/d) ADFI d (kg/d) FCR d ECONOMICS Starter feed cost ( /pig) [Diet A + B + C] Total feed cost ( /pig) Cost/kg gain ( ) /kg DW

44 Advances in piglet nutrition and practical feeding: A Northern European view Summary Litter sizes are increasing Average birth (and weaning) weight will decrease Employ relevant pre-weaning strategies to reduce preweaning mortality (and increase wean weight) Low birth weight pigs can make money if treated right Variation is normal Manage it! Group and feed to weaning weight

45 thanks for your attention.

46 litres BPEX Producer event 2014: Managing large litters and small piglets Evaluation on Supple-milk system +0.5 pigs/litter weaned (11.3 vs 11.8); Pre-wean mortality (16.7 vs 13.0 %) kg/pig weaning weight (7.56 vs Days of age) kg/litter increased weight gain (85.3 vs 92.9 kg) Quicker return to service (-0.13 days) Same ADG to slaughter (711 vs 723 g/d) Cost = /litter; /pig (40 l/litter milk usage) ROI:?? Value of 0.5 pig(let)?? 50% 50% Day Pre-weaning

47 Rescue Deck trial: Customer comments Weaning >11.7/sow (pre wean mortality 1.5%) Av weaning weight 7.5 kg (comparable) Feed cost: 11/pig (Milk 6/pig; feed 5/pig) 4 Deck system 5500 (decks, pumps, clips, transport, hoses) (no account of heat lamps, installation, labour) Segregated early weaning (veterinary direction) Plasma issue cannot be ignored Use product and hope no-one notices (not recommended) Opt out of the assurance scheme Find an alternative milk (Exist but are expensive)

48 Body weight, kg What is normal BW variation? Age post-weaning, weeks 480 pigs, same genotype, same unit, same feed etc. (Harper Adams University College; Unpublished data)

49 What is normal BW variation? 480 pigs, same genotype, same unit, same feed etc. (Harper Adams University College; Unpublished data)