The number of pigs a sow can produce annually continues to be a popular measure of production efficiency. The common metric used to compile sow productivity level is the well-recognized pigs/sow/year
This fifth and final article in this series focuses on the impact that artificial insemination (AI) technicians can have on farrowing rate and total pigs born when day of the week and hour of the day that insemination took place are known....More
In this fourth in a series of articles on the impact of artificial insemination (AI) technicians on farrowing rate and total pigs born, we have separated out information on the effect of female returns to estrus on total born and number of pigs born alive...More
Sometimes sows need assistance with farrowing. National Hog Farmer provides tips for assisting with farrowing and using instruments with care. These illustrations appear on the popular National Hog Farmer production poster, "See What You Feel." Order educational posters from the National Hog Farmer Production Poster Series at http://nationalhogfarmer.com/posters/gate.
Researchers at Iowa State have discovered the “bubble boy syndrome,” otherwise known as SCID, in swine, according to a report in the Iowa State Daily at Iowa State University.
The National Human Genome Research Institute says SCID, or severe combined immunodeficiency, is usually characterized by a lack of the adaptive immune system, a crucial part of the immune system....More
The Midwest Boar Stud Managers Conference Aug. 9-10 in St. Louis will explain the newest advancements in academic and industry research to better manage male pigs....More
In this article, we will focus on how wean-to-1st-service interval affects farrowing rate and total pigs born by artificial insemination (AI) technician...More
The U.S. sow herd experiences a greater than 50% replacement rate annually, an average parity at culling of 3.5 to 3.8 and fewer than 40 pigs produced during a sow’s lifetime, according to Ken Stalder, an Iowa State University animal science professor, who has reviewed available databases.
The five most common reasons sows leave the herd are:
1) Reproductive failure
2) Feet and leg soundness
3) Age
4) Mortality
5) Postweaning issues
...More
The Top 10% of farms in the Swine Management Services (SMS) database have a 90.3% average farrowing rate for the last 52 weeks. Five farms exceeded 94% farrowing rate. We know that for every 4% improvement in farrowing rate, a farm will produce 1.35 more pigs/sow/year, on average...More
The National Pork Board's six producer-led science and technology committees recently met in Dallas, TX, and reviewed research proposals to select projects that the Pork Checkoff would fund in 2012. In all, the groups reviewed more than 100 proposals, ultimately selecting those that would be of greatest benefit to the overall industry....More
