April 2006
Features photos, illustrations, weight and backfat estimates as an aid in assigning sow body condition scores.
Blueprint Focus: Managing Sows in Gestation
Managing Sows In Gestation
Apr 15, 2006 12:00 PM, By Dale Miller Editor
Sow herd management is generally broken into the three phases of a sow's life gestating a litter, nursing a litter and not pregnant but getting ready...
Sow Condition Scoring Guidelines
Apr 15, 2006 12:00 PM, By Colin Johnson, Ken Stalder, and Locke Karriker, DVM, Iowa State University
Sow herd culling and mortality rates have reached unacceptable levels in some herds. Reproductive failure is the most common reason sows are culled from...
Gestation Sow Housing Options Abound
Apr 15, 2006 12:00 PM, By Donald G. Levis, University of Nebraska
The method of housing sows during the breeding-gestation phases of pork production has undergone considerable transition during the last 40 years. The...
Feed Sows For Condition, Productivity
Apr 15, 2006 12:00 PM, By Mike Tokach and Joel DeRouchey, Kansas State University
When designing a feeding program for gestating sows, it is important to remember the overall goals for the nutrition program: Prepare sows to be in proper...
Neutralizing Chronic, Acute Disease Challenges
Apr 15, 2006 12:00 PM, By Locke Karriker, DVM, and Ken Stalder, Iowa State University
Sow and gilt health maintenance in gestation is impacted by a host of factors. The traditional approach to sow and gilt health uses and synonymously....
Understanding Why Sows Are Culled
Apr 15, 2006 12:00 PM, By Mark Knauer, Locke Karriker, DVM and Ken Stalder, Iowa State University
Sow culling rates have a direct correlation to the economic efficiency of a breeding herd. Some sows are culled voluntarily in an effort to improve overall...
Optimizing Cull Sow Value
Apr 15, 2006 12:00 PM, By Robert Fitzgerald, Ken Stalder, and Locke Karriker, DVM, Iowa State University
When is the best time to market cull sows? Before pork producers can answer this seemingly easy question, some additional questions must be thought through:...
