Faber advises lower sow stress for better litters FORT WaYNE, Ind. - Minimizing sow stresses before and during lactation can help wean more pigs per litter, says Jerry Faber, swine research specialist, for Master Mix. “Stress factors at farrow ing, including changes in surroundings and feed, in creased environmental temperature, and reduced JOHN HEFTY . SYSTEMS Special factory allowance on MF combines The factory is giving special allowances on new Massey- Ferguson combines. This means you can get big savings on our crop-saving MF 540 and 550 combines .. . and on the big-capacity MF 750 and 760 models These savings make our everyday good deals even better 1 Step up to the combine leader that can make your high-yield fields MF Massey Ferguson S. G. LEWIS AND SON MARLIN W. SCHREFFLER N. H. FLICKER & SDNS, INC. West Grove, PA Ph (215)869-9440 869-2214 ' activity trigger hormonal reactions in the sow’s system,” Faber .explains. “These reactions v reduce resistance to infection, depress protein metabolism and interfere with fhe sow’s ability to utilize certain nutrients The end results are poorer health, decreased milk production and reduced weanmg percentages.” i£*rSowTnw** f L SAVE NOW! Personalized MF financing, parts, and service available. PETERMAN FARM EQUIPMENT LEBANON VALLEY IMPLEMENT CO. ABRACZINSKA’S FARM EQUIP. INC. 225 York Road 700 E Linden St RD 1, Catawissa, PA Carlisle, PA Richland, PA 717-356-2323 Ph (717)249-5338 Ph (717)866-7518 (South on Rt 42) Faber suggests that hog producers begin stress minimizing practices during the gestation period. To cut down fighting and injury, and insure adequate feed in take, he recommends that gestation pens be limited to ten or fewer sows per pen, with a minimum floor area of 14 to 20 square feet. Ideally, gestatmg sows should be housed in in dividual crates or stalls to eliminate fighting and to control feed mtake, Faber says. Even if individual gestation pens are not prac tical, the researcher recom mends that provisions be made for gestatmg sows to be fed individually. “Eight years of work at the Master Mix Swine Research Farm has shown that individually-fed sows stay in the breeding herd at least one litter longer than group-fed sows,” Faber ex plains. “Proper body conditioning and weight gams (gilts 70 to 100 lbs. and sows of 30 to 60 lbs.) are critical for minimizing Stress of farrow ing. Producers should feed a nutritionally balanced ration which will build adequate body stores of all nutrients without excessive fat building,” he contmues. In cold weather it may be necessary to increase feed mtake by one to two pounds per day, however.” In addition, an external parasite eradication pro gram should be followed dur ing gestation, and sows come clean. Choose from 37" to 60" - wide cylinders to match your needs. Plus all the features you want to give you the best possible return on your combine investment. You'll get a better deal than ever now, with our special factory allowances. But you’d better hurry, offer expires May 2, 1980. Pitman, PA Ph (717)648-1120 should be wormed at least two weeks before entermg the farrowing house. The sow should be moved to the farrowing environ ment at least four days before her due date, to allow her to adjust to the new en vironment. “Constipation is one of the biggest stress symptoms m the farrowing house,” Faber says. When sows are con stipated prior to farrowing, they’ll be restless, won’t eat properly, and will be suscep tible to fever and infections after farrowing.” To avoid constipation, Faber recommends feeding a highly palatable, laxative ration at a moderate level of six lbs., fed at two equal feedings per day. A medicated feed will further combat infection and disease organisms. “The farrowing room should be maintained at a temperature comfortable for the sow, between 60 and 75 degrees, and kept free of drafts. Warmer temperatures will depress feed mtake and milk produc tion,” Faber contmues. At farrowing, room noise and activity should be kept to a minimum. The area should be kept clean and dry for general comfort and sure footmg. “Woven wire flooring, because of the clean environ ment and sure footmg it pro vides, has been shown to decrease sow stress during lactation. Smce baby pigs are more healthy and nurse Maxatawny, PA Ph (215)683-7252 Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, March 15,1980—D33 USDA begins purchase of grain WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of Agriculture Bob Bergland today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture will buy wheat and com suspended from shipment to the Soviet Union. On Friday, March 7, the Commodity Credit Cor poration first offered to buy wheat. Purchases will contmue until a quantity equal to that suspended from shipment to the USSR has been removed from the market. The classes of wheat purchased will be based on P.L. 480 program needs. Offers will be accepted at prevailing market prices. “Our plan is to use the wheat bought by CCC for overseas food assistance programs. To this end it is more vigorously and because of the clean environ ment, sow MMA symptoms are reduced,” Faber says. After farrowing, the sow feeding level should be in creased gradually to a level of 4 lbs. per sow plus one lb. per nursing pig. If sows are extremely restless, however, full feed may be of fered immediately. To further reduce stress during lactation, pig needle teeth should be clipped on the first day after farrowing, Faber concludes. MP Massey Ferguson Spring ■ into the 80’sl ARNETT’S GARAGE Rt 9 Box 125 Hagerstown, MD Ph (301)733-0515 essential Congress approve legislation requested by the administration to establish a food security reserve so the quantities acquired can be transferred to that special food reserve,” Bergland said. Bergland said a direct purchase program would also be implemented for corn. This will complement the mcentives already an nounced to encourage in creased participation m the farmer-owned reserve, he said. “Since January 7, an additional 3.3 million tons of com have entered our far mer-owned reserve program and thereby have been isolated from the market. We are continuing to en courage farmers to place additional quantities of com m the reserve program. “However, to achieve our goal of removing all of the com once destined for the USSR from the market, we will begin making offers to directly purchase com. The first offer will be made by the middle of this month and bids will continue on a regular basis. Acceptances will be made based on prevailing market prices,” Bergland said. Offers to buy the gram will be made by the Kansas City Commodity Office of USDA’s Agricultural Stabilization and Con servation Service. GUS FARM EQUIPMENT INC. Int 214 & 616 Seven Valleys,PA 17360 Ph (717)428-1967 M.M. WEAVER & SON N Groffdale Rd. Leola, PA 17540 Ph (717)656-2321
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