Farm case studies Please note: 1. The farm case studies in the following pages are in no particular order. 2. The order the case studies appear in the following pages do not relate to the farm number in the results section. 22
68 CASE STUDY
OVERVIEW OF FARM 360 sows 25-28 day weaning Wet feeding system Sows in stalls at mating Moved into groups 28 days post mating Groups on deep sawdust bed in low cost shelter Group size 10-12 Gilts kept separate Shed alignment east/west Rain fall 1200-1300 mm/annum Post-Weaning Sows mated in stalls Housed in stalls for 28 days Feeding Once a day feeding Full length trough Trough space 0.5-0.6m per sow 3 pm feed - Observe through the day - Settle down for the night Large volume 25 litre each- good gut fill 69
Mixing Method Mating up to 15 sows per week Mix into group pen from stalls every week - Sows mixed in groups of 10-11 including parity 1 sows - Sows do settle down better on bedding after mixing. - Do get shoulder injuries on mixing - biting scratching and lacerations. Gilts kept in separate shelter In the past we have housed boars in the pen at mixing but not now- they tend to hog the trough. 70
Shade cloth roof over feed pad to stop sunburn Drinkers over trough Concrete lip Shade cloth on north east wall to stop sun burn Shade cloth on south east end to stop rain driving in Barrier gate across half the pen between feed pad and bed General Management Changed from 3m wide pen to 6m wide pens because : - Give more room to escape-bigger flight distance. Close off feed pad for stock movement and boar access to check for returns - However any returns tend to look for boar and make themselves known to staff. Barrier gate - Gate between feed pad and bed provides escape barrier. - Also makes it easier to shift sows out of pen. - Lock sows on feed pad for cleaning out bedding. 71
General Management Sawdust Bedding - Need to manage bedding. - Up to 1m deep and cleaned out once a year before winter. - Need to manage it if it gets wet, hard to get it right in winter. - Try to get most out of it- but it can be costly if it gets a bug, causes abortions, splay legs and non viable piglets - Sows turn it over and dig. - Each shelter takes 400 m 3 at $15per m 3. Sawdust composted and applied to land or sold - Fine sawdust is best for good composting General observations Vulva biting can be a problem close to farrowing The sows behaviour changes as they get close to farrowing - Become territorial. - Build a nest. Concrete lip on edge of feed pad important - Keeps sawdust in bed - Keeps water spillage and rain out of sawdust bed. Gates with upright bars important - Sows can t climb or get hung up. - Commercial gates constructed a bit light - repairs needed. Sows spread out in summer and huddle more in the winter 72
Gilts housed separately 6 pens of similar layout to the sows Concrete base under bedding Need to clean more often -every 2 months Shallower bed 200mm Findings What stock skills are required? - Need better observation. - Sow welfare of higher importance-need good staff. - Clean out bed if wet. - Acting quickly for injuries to sows or poor condition. - Using records. - Attention to detail. How do you handle aggression? - Act quickly- remove sow and put in own pen. - Careful at mixing and plenty of feed. Staff required - 1 staff member per 85 sows Sawdust bedding - High running cost- $16,500 a year to house 160 sows, that s $100/sow before normal maintenance and repairs. - Cleaning out - must get logistics right, no stuff ups, 1 day a shed. It s a major exercise, close off sows on feed pad and go for it. What would I do differently? - Concrete under sawdust, clean out quicker, could do a partial clean i.e. individual pens, but sawdust gets wetter with concrete base. Need another facility to hold sows to do it. 73
Key points Mix when confirmed in pig 6-7 m 2 /sow in groups Ensure sows are in good condition when entering groups Wet feeding- gut fill and even feed intake Managing bedding is critical- don t let it get wet Gilts kept separate 74
CASE STUDY 75
OVERVIEW OF FARM 720 sows 25 day weaning Dry feeding system Sows mixed in groups post weaning Sows moved to stalls at mating Moved into groups few days post mating 4 different group housing systems 2 styles of straw based barns Enclosed environmentally controlled sheds Retrofitted grower and stall sheds Gilts kept separate Rain fall 1100 mm/annum Post-Weaning At weaning sows are mixed into 1 group for 4 days then moved to stalls Sows mated in stalls and held in stalls for 2 days Then moved into groups of 30+ or 6 depending on which pens are available 100% AI Feeding Once a day feeding Manual feeding On to floor in retrofitted sheds On feed pad in shelters Water is delivered via bowls and nipples In shelters bowls over feed pad and drain away from bedding Large volume 25 litre each- good gut fill Mixing Method Mating up to 35 per weekly batch Sows mixed at weaning and regrouped post mating When mixing, transfer sows into groups at the end of the day, feed well and leave to settle over night Matched for size - Matching for size is easier in small pens - Gilts kept in separate area until they are mixed with the sows after weaning their first litter Sows housed in static groups of: - 6-8 in retrofitted sheds mainly gilts - 30 plus in bedded shelters With aggression just got to deal with it and see what happens to farrowing rate. 76
Shelter is part of gestating sow accommodation One-end opens to allow cleaning and replacement of bedding Clean out after each batch Gates open to clean out spent bedding Feed pad. Drinkers on wall in front of feed pad 77
Retrofitted mono pitch pole barn Retrofitted mono pitch pole barn Gates that open for cleaning Slope away from bed Step up from bed to feed pad 78
Retrofitted mono pitch pole barn Alignment east /west Eastern end enclosed Retrofitted grower sheds Slats 2 retrofitted grower sheds One shed has slats the other an open gutter for dunging area. Sows in slatted pens cleaner. 2 rows of 10 conventional grower pens in each shed Race around perimeter of the shed Floor fed Marked slope on floor to open flush gutter Pens 6 x 2.5 m 2.14 m 2 per gilt and 2.5 m 2 per sow pens with the gutters can be quite dirty for 2 weeks after they are mixed. takes time for them to settle down. 79
Retrofitted grower sheds Open flush gutter General Management Each sow checked daily in groups at feed time - Check each sow up and feeding Check for returns, injuries, abortions etc. More injuries in the indoor sows - slipping in the open gutter. - small numbers get injured in this area. Condition of indoor sows is more even - The benefit of mixing on size in smaller groups. Pregnancy testing is done in groups - Easier in small groups. - Can do it lying down on straw. 80
General Management Retrofitted sheds Manure flushed daily Irrigated to land ex ponding system Deep litter sheds Bedding removed, composted along with separated solids Spread to land when cultivating Layout of shelter requires full building clean out Mono pitch shed clean out 1 pen at a time Keep removing base material Creates a higher step up to feed pad Findings What do you do about aggression? - Check at mixing. - Seems to get less as they get further away from stalls, less as they get used to the group system. - Vulva biting not a problem, get odd one - Generally they stay in their own group as they go through the system. - Gilts that have grown into the group system, never known stalls seem less aggressive. Spread feed around on pad or floor to ensure all sows get access. What stock skills are required? - Staff have to change with the system - Easier for new staff who didn t know stalls - Check at mixing - Keep an eye on things- more input to keep condition up - Manual feeding helps- check all sows are up and feeding Key points Matching for size and temperament is easier in small groups Ensure sows are in good condition when entering groups Varied systems to utilise on same farm Use home grown straw and compost bedding for crop manure Mixing sows post mating Keep gilts separate 81
Retrofitted grower sheds General Management Each sow checked daily in groups at feed time - Check each sow up and feeding Check for returns, injuries, abortions etc. More injuries in the indoor sows - slipping in the open gutter. - small numbers get injured in this area. Condition of indoor sows is more even - The benefit of mixing on size in smaller groups. Pregnancy testing is done in groups - Easier in small groups. - Can do it lying down on straw. 82
CASE STUDY 83
OVERVIEW OF FARM 400 sows 25 day weaning Sows in stalls 4 weeks Moved to group system - Following pregnancy test - Large outside loafing yard - Shared / alternate between 2 pens Using groups for 15 years - works- just need 10% more sows. Average rainfall 780mm/annum Post-Weaning Feed during lactation to maintain good condition Post-Weaning Moved to mating shed adjacent to boars Weaned into stalls Sows brought to mating pen for oestrus detection, mating/insemination About 1 third A.I. One insemination and then naturally mated. 18 mated per week the target - mate cool part of day - fit gilts in as needed Post-mating Into stall shed for 4 weeks Aim to keep environment cool and stable - Mate them and put in a fridge. - Heat kills the job. Minimise all stressors at mating and early pregnancy Return date painted on sows back - Easy observation Manually fed in stalls Nipple drinker 84
Mixing Method Pregnancy check to confirm in pig before mix Mix on size into groups of 10 Move in the coolest part of the day Move via wide outside race Mix late in day when it is cooler Don t mix any skinny sows, sick or bullied sows are stalled Move to farrowing 1 week before sows are due Gilts housed separately in groups of 4 until they farrow - Stable groups from arrival on farm Sows have access to outside loafing run - Attached to their pen - Totally covered by shade cloth - Their choice to go in or outside. Freezer panel building 3.5m x 7.4m 2.6 m 2 /sow Tilt slab concrete walls Feed manually onto floor give them all a go at feed 1x/day feeding Feed distributed to droppers in race Gutter flushed 8 times /day 85
Dunging race Sows in groups of 10 showing sleeping area 86
Step down to dunging race Layout of sleeping area Covered dunging race Outside loafing run- sandy soil Gates back to sleeping area Sow with access to loafing run Gilt Shed Stable groups on entry Gutter flushed 8 times /day Floor fed 4-5 gilts/pen depending on size 10 pens holding 40-50 gilts Good light open and airy 87
Freezer panel roof on gilt shed Key points Mix at 4 weeks post mating once confirmed in pig Specialised mixing area plenty of space Ensure sows are in good condition on entering groups Keep sows settled, low stress and cool in early pregnancy Sows free of mange- very settled Spread out feed when floor feeding 88