Use of special diets during the weaning-to-service interval
The weaning-to-service interval is a short but vital period regarding the productivity of the sow.
Page 11 of articles about sow in Articles
Reproduction in gilts inseminated with PCV2-spiked semen. Protection by gilt vaccination with a sow PCV2 vaccine
PCV2 vaccination of the gilts prior to insemination with PCV2 spiked-semen showed a clear decrease of viral load in the gilts as well as a much lower viral excretion that were compatible with foetus protection.
Nature is wise II
In a system with 2.35 farrowings/sow/year, more than 14 piglets born per farrowing, more than 11 weaned piglets/farrowing and around 1% of losses at weaning; what can we do to improve this?
Farrowing interval: how does it affect productivity?
The farrowing interval is one of the production parameters more commonly used as an indicator of the production efficiency of a farm.
Space in the farrowing quarters
Knowing how to make the most of space in our farrowing rooms is a key point, not only when using foster sows, but also for increasing the age at weaning. The farrowing pen is the most expensive pen at the farm, and we must obtain the maximum possible efficiency out of it.
Main problems with pregnant sows housed in groups (II)
This article suggests some solutions to the main problems encountered in pregnancies with group housing.
Clinical case: Acute cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus in a sow farm and nursery
None of the employees on this farm had ever seen TGEv before, but were concerned that is what they were seeing.
Main problems with pregnant sows housed in groups (I)
The two main factors that make that certain farms have not been successful adapting to the animal welfare regulations are design and handling/management.
Weaning-to-service interval: what affects it and how to control it
Which factors affect the WTSI? Among the factors with a biggest influence we have: inadequate intake during lactation, season of the year, and length of the lactation.
Advantages and disadvantages of liquid feeding for sows
This feeding system has a great return on investment, especially for the lactating sows, and even more in hot areas.
Coloured pegs for the identification of the number of returns to oestrus of the sows
The goal is to identify the number of returns to oestrus of the sows quickly and at a glance using coloured pegs.
Small piglets born to young sows: a very dangerous combination (III): Effects on the nurseries
The piglets born to primiparous sows show a worse performance during the nursery stage and a twofold risk of dying than the piglets born to multiparous sows.
Nurse sows (III): Moving sows “backwards”
In the previous piece of advice we saw that obtaining foster sows by moving piglets "forward" had some disadvantages, which are solved by moving the sows "backwards".
Small piglets born to young sows: a very dangerous combination (II): Control measures
Small piglets with a low viability are a growing problem, and they represent one of the main causes of pre-weaning mortality.
Using ear tags for controlling heats in the quarantine area
A very simple system for monitoring the heats of replacement gilts that consists of putting them ear tags at each of the two heats during the quarantine period.
Effect of high fiber intake in sows in the transition period on piglet survival
Constipation is one of the factors that are involved in pre weaning piglet mortality.