C34—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 6,1981
NEWARK, Dela. - Early
weaning is sometimes suggested
as a way to get more pigs per sow
each year.
The assumption is the period
between weaning and estrus and
the conception rate aren’t affected
b> weaning age. This isn’t Vue,
according to a University of
Delaware spokesman.
Lactation periods of less than
three weeks may result in poor
return to estrus or low conception
rates, says Extension Livestock
Specialist Richard Fowler. “The
sooner after farrowing one tries to
mate the sow, the lower the con
ception rate,” he states. “At
tempts to make the sow into an
incubator by weaning at one or two
weeks have caused problems in
getting her rebred.”
Research shows that early
weaning has a negative effect on
litter size. Weaning earlier than
four weeks cannot be recom
mended, according to one report.
Producers can increase litters
per sow per year, but litter size will
be smaller. Total numbers of pigs
produced per year will also
decline,” he notes.
“The point to remember is that
weaning at ages below three to
four weeks may do more harm
than good because it reduces litter
size. The reproductive tract of the
sow must return to normal before
rebreeding, and this process
requires about four weeks,”
Fowler explains.
Enerngy has a definite effect on
farrowing rate. Increasing feed
energy levels for gilts 10 to 14 days
before mating increases the
number of eggs shed.
Though sow starvation for a 24 to
72 hour penod after weaning is
used by some producers to help dry
up lactating sows before
rebreeding, recent studies show
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this has an adverse effect on return
to estrus and conception rate, says
Fowler.
Instead, feed gilts an additional
two pounds of feed one to two
weeks before breeding and feed
sows six pounds daily after
weaning, through rebreeding.
The greatest pig losses occur
during the first three weeks of
pregnancy, so reduce stress on
sows and gilts during this period.
Groups of six sows or less usually
result in fewer fights and more
uniform Utter sizes within each
group.
“Sows vary in their eating
habits. Some consume feed slowly,
while others seem to handle it with
one big whiff. Feed stalls allow
each pig to get her share,” Fowler
says.
Stress affects the process of
implantation—the process during
which the fetus becomes attached
to the uterine wall. Hot weather,
fighting and insufficient feed in-
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take are three stresses that can
hat in implantation.
“Hot weather is approaching.
Once it gets here, plan to keep sows
and boars cool,” recommends
Fowler.
The loss of eggs and fetuses can
be reduced by improving herd
health and by avoiding virus in
fections at critical stages. An
tibiotics or other feed additives
have improved fertdity on some
farms. Constant use is not
recommended, but feeding one
half gram daily during the
breeding season can help certain
situations.
This half gram can be supplied
by feeding five pounds of a ration
containing 200 grams of additive
per ton. Limit the use of such
products to 10 days before and 10
days after breeding.
Chloratetracyclme is a product
reported by one study to improve
farrowing rates when used as
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New boars arrive on most hog
farms at least once a year. Proper
management of them can also help
litter size. Isolate the new boar and
observe him for three to four
weeks. Before breeding, expose
sows to boar feces and vice versa.
Do this three weeks before
breeding so immunity to new
viruses can be established,
cautions Fowler.
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die within the first eight weeks of
life. Mortality increases with litter
size since large litters tend to have
smaller pigs. Farrow sows in
tightly scheduled groups so pigs
can be transferred to sows with
smaller litters. All pigs must
receive colostrum in order to have
maximum resistance to stress.
A tight farrowing schedule
should permit all m-all out
farrowing house management,
Fowler concludes.
ISI
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