sowing-in Articles
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Swine Production Tips and Feeding Strategies to Dodge Temperature Variations : Beating the Heat in Farrowing!
The effects of heat stress on lactating sows has been studied by several research institutions worldwide. We can look at primiparous (first parity) or multi-parous sows but the results are similar (Williams, 2009) For this discussion, let us look at farrowing room environment conditions of 68°F (desired) vs. 77°F (hot). The period that should be most scrutinized is the ambient ...
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A higher birthweight due to preventive actions!
The majority of pig breeders knows the yearly production cycle. A productive first half of the year turning into a period with possible heat stress followed by seasonal infertility in September to end with less viable piglets in October and November. Breaking this cycle completely is impossible due to the fact that some of the causes are deeply wired into the genetic code of the pig. Although, ...
By Ardol BV
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Scrutinize herd retention by rethinking gilt development
Not everyone will agree with my arguments in this article. However, I’m tired of hearing complaints about current sow mortality rates and general agreement that additional research is needed in gilt development; yet remain disappointed in the lack of tangible, practical strategies that producers can take home and implement at the ‘slat level’ to make meaningful changes in their ...
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Farrowing feeding for sow production: What to consider to improve profitability and productivity
Feeding a Farrowing Sow: What Should we Consider? From feeder costs to feed palatability, here are some of the hot topics to think about when you are choosing the right sow feeding system for your farrowing rooms. Farrowing Feeding Methods Farrowing sows play an essential role in pig production since sow and litter performance can influence the swine industry’s next outcomes. Considering ...
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A Guide to Optimizing Sow Feed Intake
Creating the optimal environment for farrowing sows can help to minimize the challenges producers face when it comes to maintaining proper body condition and raising healthy piglets, as sow well-being will always be a constant concern within our industry. Improvements to sow feeding are a clear opportunity for improvement to body condition, overall health, increased productivity and overall herd ...
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The Importance of Feed Intake in Lactation on a Sow’s Productivity
Feeding Systems in Farrowing: The Questions of a Producer Alain and Donald Lefebvre are the owners of Ferme Aldo. In 1999, they decided to do a research on feed intake at their farm. Although this was some years ago, the results are still relevant to swine production today. The findings of the study, generated using Gestal feeders, from the ALDO farm were conclusive: maximizing feed intake ...
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Electronic sow feeding system
In 2013, the company Börde Porc GmbH & Co. KG set up a modern sow management farm in one of the most fertile plains of Germany, the so-called "Magdeburg Börde". The new houses provide space for around 2,400 productive sows and 600 gilts. Once again, Big Dutchman was allowed to prove its capability by providing the required sow equipment. To date, Börde Porc's location ...
By Big Dutchman
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Top 12 Questions about the Transition to Group Housing : Questions and Answers by our Experts
Your decision is made. You want to go for group-housing in gestation. Whatever the reason is for doing this transition; compliance with governmental regulations in your country for the welfare of your sows, you must have a lot of questions regarding this major change. We can assure you that you are not alone in this situation. Every sow-farm owner that has done the transition went through this ...
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Lighting for Farrowing Shed - Case Study
Each pig production phase has different demands that require different lamps in different lighting intensities. The light should suit the phase in pig production and the type of pig house. Take the farrowing house as an example, offering optimal 200-300lx light intensity on the ground and 8-16 light hours can promote piglets and sow lactation, resulting in higher weaning weights. Also an ...
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New Swine Farm Case Study - Case Study
Each pig production phase has different demands that require different lamps in different lighting intensities. The light should suit the phase in pig production and the type of pig house. Take the farrowing house as an example, offering optimal 200-300lx light intensity on the ground and 8-16 light hours can promote piglets and sow lactation, resulting in higher weaning weights. Also an ...
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It Takes Guts
If there’s one thing we know about pigs, it’s their love for food. A lot of food. We even use the terms such as “eat like a pig” or “pigging out.” Since swine are always on the lookout for their next meal, make sure the feed you’re putting in front of them will have a positive impact on their health and life-stage needs. Today, pork producers face ...
By Diamond V
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Automated Feeders Offer Explorations into New Management Practices to Improve Stillborn Rates
A 5,000-Head Commercial Sow-Farm Research Introduction In modern sow farms, piglet mortality is the leading restraint in producers not reaching their maximum production potential. According to the last US national database evaluation performed by Dr. Stalder in 2018, the US had an industry average of ~26% pre-weaning mortality, with nearly 10% of those attributed to stillborn (Stalder, 2018). ...
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Prospering pig farmer in Catalonia very happy with liquid feeding system - Case Study
Catalonia, one of the autonomous communities of Spain in the north-east of the country, has much to offer. Its beautiful beaches and the capital Barcelona are visited by many tourists every year. What most of them do not know: The Catalans are very successful pig producers. This is not only proven by the many farms breeding the Iberian pig in the region around the city of Lleida. A large ...
By Big Dutchman
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How to retrofit a farm wisely while following a reasonable budget
In Gestation: Animal Welfare and Regulations Consumers and defense groups have put pressure on the government, such as in Europe, Canada or California, and on producers’ associations for the implementation of regulation towards the improvement of livestock welfare. In swine production, the most significant change that was put in place is the change from individual gestation to sow group ...
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Sow management: Bongdong trumpets stellar production - Case Study
The past decade has seen changes in the South Korean pig industry landscape. From more than 12,000 pig farms in 2005, the number declined to 6,000 in 2012. Despite this, total pig inventory in the country has gone up to almost 10 million heads from roughly nine million heads during the same period, evidence of the growing efficiency and productivity of the country’s pig producers. These ...
By Big Dutchman
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Support optimal weaning through pig housing solutions
As reported in a 2019 article, weaning “represents one of the most critical stages in pig production, which is reflected in the high piglet morbidity and mortality for this period.” Experienced pig farmers know that production initiated with the healthiest piglets is best and supporting their adaptation throughout different phases is also crucial. Yet, what about the management of the ...
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France: DryExactpro dry feeding system for 1,600 weaners - Case Study
Big Dutchman pig equipment and feeding systems are used on pig farms in more than 100 countries on all five continents. Naturally, this includes the "End of the Earth", and for good reason: French department no. 29, Finistère, derives its name from the Latin "Finis Terrae" and is the westernmost corner of Brittany, i.e. right where France drops into the Atlantic Ocean. It has much ...
By Big Dutchman
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Carthage System Upgrades Feeding Technology to Gestal
High Power Pork LLC., a 6000-head Carthage System sow farm, has recently undergone conversion from a conventional European-style electronic sow feeding system to the Gestal 3G free-access feeding system and is therefore announcing a group-housing retrofit with Jyga Technologies, manufacturer of Gestal. Since its establishment in 2010, the farm has used pen housing. The original open pen system ...
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Testimonial Bettapork, Australia: MagFans are whisper quiet
MagFans are whisper quiet and consume far less power than any other similar size fans on our farm. Bettapork in Queensland, Australia, is a 2000 sow full line production with three individual sites for sows, weaners and finishers. Laurie Brosnan is one of the owners of Bettapork and in charge of the production, and Laurie is constantly working to optimize his production, save energy, and increase ...
By DACS A/S
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Bettapork in Queensland, Australia - Testimonial
“MagFans are whisper quiet and consume far less power than any other similar size fans on our farm.” Bettapork in Queensland, Australia, is a 2000 sow full line production with three individual sites for sows, weaners and finishers. Laurie Brosnan is one of the owners of Bettapork and in charge of the production, and Laurie is constantly working to optimize his production, save ...
By DACS A/S
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