DIO-Lancaster Farming Saturday, February 22, 1992 UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) Just how the topic of light flu into hog production isn’t well understood. Most agree it can affect performance. But to date we lack standards on how many hours of light are needed or what intensi ty is best. Kenneth B. Kepharf, extension swine specialist. Department of Dairy and Animal Science, Penn State took a lode at the research conducted over the past 30 years. Here’s what he found. Growing-Finishing Hogs Given the choice, pigs will spend about 18 hours a day in the dark, Canadian studies show. Other studies seem to parallel this finding. When pigs are raised in complete darkness, weight gains are depressed. And conversely, providing more than 6 to 8 hours of light for growing-finishing hogs is of no value. For many producers the 8-hour requirement is easy, since most hogs are grown in modified open front facilities. But for those in tot ally enclosed buildings, leaving the lights on during working hours makes good sense. Developing Gilts One thing is pretty certain regarding gilts—those in confine ment won’t cycle as early as those outside. Lots of studies show that but we don’t know why. Light and day-length may be part of it, but other factors seem to be involved as well. If you’re committed to confine ment, then what? Light isn’t the whole answer but keeping gilts out of the dark will help. For example, experiments at lowa State and in Canada show that gilts in total darkness will be slower coming into heat than th6se getting artifi cial light or natural light through windows. How many hours of light are needed? Experiments point to 6 to 8 hours as an absolute minimum. And studies at Purdue make a 15-hour schedule look pretty good especially during late summer and fall when day-length is wan ing. From August to January, gilts getting 15 hours of light (8 hrs natural, 7 hrs artificial) cycled an average of 20 days earlier than those on natural light alone. Developing Boars Light does influence the time it takes for boars to reach sexual maturity. But the details are a little different from what we described for the gilts. With the male, it doesn’t seem to matter whether days are getting longer or shorter. If the day-length is short, supple mental light will accelerate mating behavior. Studies at Purdue show that 15 hours of light (8 hrs natural, 7 hrs artificial) will increase libido scores in young boars. Unfortunately these boar exper iments are a little misleading. For one thing, only crossbred boars were used. Many commercial pro ducers use purebred boars. Sec- BUY SEU.TftAOe Oft BENT THftOUQi PHONE: 717*2*-1144 or 717-3*4-3047 FARM EQUIPMENT DISMANTLING FOR PARTS: New Arrivals: CAT D6B 44A Bulldozer w/good engine, D6C Hyster winch & straight blade w/tilt. All for parts BALANDA EQUIPMENT P.O. Box 407 Swine Light Requirements Vary ondly, libido scores were taken from about 5 to 8 months of age too early to be using boars in the first place. Lactating Sows Only a few studies have mea sured the effect of light on lacta tion. But the resulU are striking. For example at Kansas State, sows getting supplemental light weaned litters that were 6 pounds heavier at 25 days than those exposed to lighu only at feeding time. And by S days post weaning, 83 percent of the sows in the lighted group were in heat compare! to only 68 per cent in the dark group. In a University of Georgia experiment, sows receiving 16 hours of light weaned .9 more pigs and litters that were 10 pounds heavier at three weeks compared to sows on eight hours of light. Survi val of all pigs weighing 3 pounds and under at birth was improved. How Does It Work? We haven’t answered that one yet Study after study shows that light has no influence on the hor mones crucial to reproduction. About all we know is that the more time a pig spends in the dark, the heavier his pineal gland becomes. This is a tiny structure in the brain that starts out as a third eye in the fetus, but ends up as a pineal with nerve connections to the functional eyes. Recommendations We don’t have all the answers, but here are some suggestions. How Long? 1. Growing-finishing hogs. If you have hogs in dark confinement buildings, lights should be on a minimum of 8 hours a day. 2. Developing gilts. From about August until January, gilts cycle earlier with 16 hours of light. If you have ample light coming through windows or curtains the rest of the year, that will be adequ ate. If gilts are housed with the other market hogs, then the finish ing floor should have 16 hours of light during late summer and fall. Rt. 29 Palm. 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Shirk Rd., Box 56, RR 1 New Holland, PA 17557 Alglan, PA 19310 717-384-6066 215-593-2981 QUANTEM BI^ 8 I Temperature Modulating Fan Speed Control Designed to be splash and dust resistant in accordance with NEC Article 547 I The “Vari-Speed" w VENTILATING Con ' trol is a SOLID STATE, single phase variable motor speed controller, design ed to automatically ventilate industrial, commercial and agricultural facilitiesr The Series SO provides ventilation control in proportion to the error sensed between the controller set point and actual space temperature as monitored by the controll er's sensor. As temperature changes, vol tage to the fan motor is changed proportionately. £5 HI Ga, Hog Zed Panels 34”x16’ ! $14.95 not be enough. Light coming through fan blades will not be enough. Light coming from heat lamps in the farrowing house will not be enough. Most experiments indicate 300 to 400 lux (27-37 fool candles) is optimum. To be sure what you have, measure the inten sity about one foot off the floor. Otherwise, a rough rule of thumb is that three clean 100-watt incan descent bulbs will provide about 300 lux over a 75 square foot area. We Supply We Ship Two 40-watt fluorescent bulbs will do about the same. And keep in mind that lights in the farrowing house should be installed over or behind the sows head so the front of the crate doesn’t create an obstruction. What kind? It doesn’t matter. Incandescent or fluorescent will work equally as well. But remember, fluorescent lights provide mote light, watt for watt, than incandescent. Diesel Engine • Air System Everything (717) 354-6066 HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS & SERVICE 252 N Shirk Road New Holland. PA 17557 * Hydraulic A. 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