Avoiding Landmines Converting to Loose Sow Housing

Transcription

1 Avoiding Landmines Converting to Loose Sow Housing Banff Pork Seminar January 10-12, 2017 Mark Fynn, M.Sc. Manager, Quality Assurance & Animal Care Programs

2 Common landmines Inappropriate flooring Dirty pens No way for sows to escape aggression Not enough space between pen features Suboptimal mixing practices Competitive feeding Lack of feeder training

3 Making the right decision for flooring Solid and/or bedded flooring results in fewer non-productive culls For slatted floors At least 40% of total floor space should be slatted Optimum gap width: ~0.8 inches (max. 1 inch) Recommended slat width: 5 inches Blunted edges; beveled slats 1 5

4 Encouraging dunging over slats Separate dunging from resting areas Features to encourage resting and discourage dunging in resting areas Solid floor Dry Reducing drafts Walls to lean against 2%

5 Designing your pens for avoidance Escape features Stocking density Solid partitions Circular passageways Space between features

6 Ensuring space between features The Rule of 8-8 -

7 Mixing at the best time Code of Practice states that mated sows and gilts need to be placed in groups by day 35 after date of last breeding Unless time in stalls extended to protect the welfare of individual sows on advice of a competent stockperson Preferentially at one of three times: 1. At weaning 2. Just after breeding/insemination and estrus 3. After implantation and positive preg-check

8 Grouping gilts & sows for success Static Placed in pen all at the same time Dynamic Smaller groups into larger group on set schedule As sows moved to farrowing room, new sows enter from breeding section Parity/size segregation?

9 Injured pig care

10 Mixing the best way Dry, non-slip flooring Group together after morning feeding Potentially re-feed that day Adequate space allowance Escape features Hierarchy-related fighting should subside within one to three days

11 Choosing the right feeding system for your operation

12 Floor Feeding COMPETITIVE

13 Shoulder Stalls COMPETITIVE

14 Free-Access Stalls

15 Electronic Sow Feeders (ESF)

16 Free-Access ESF

17 BMPs for ESF and free-access ESF Generally limit to about 65 sows per ESF (depending on ESF manufacturer) or 20 per free-access ESF Need 10+ feet around feeder entrance 13 feet or more preferable This is a Critical Control Point

18 Feeder training Training gilts to use ESF is critical Training sows might be more difficult than gilts Leave the rest to Dr. Tom Parsons

19 Personnel Available Overall, stockpersons husbandry skills remain the most important factor to ensure animal well-being in all housing systems.

20 Recommended Reading groupsowhousing.com

21 Thanks! Contact: Mark Fynn (204)

22 Space Allowance EU Council Directive 2008/120/EC Number of Animals Space Allowance for Sows (ft 2 ) Space Allowance for Gilts (ft 2 ) Cdn Code of Practice (recommended minimum) Space Allowance for Mixed Group (ft 2 ) Space Allowance for Sows (ft 2 ) Space Allowance for Gilts (ft 2 )

23 Feeder training Training Two Step One Step

24 Feeding Systems

25 Floor Feeding Usually small groups (6 30 animals) Must be static Group by size/parity Group at days post-breeding Spread feed evenly 15 ft 2 of feeding space per animal

26 Non-Gated / Shoulder Stalls Usually small groups (6 25 animals) Should be static Group by size/parity Group at days post-breeding 20 between feed drops if double-sided Longer stalls better Trickle feed ( biofix ) 20

27 Free-Access / Gated Stalls Small to large groups ( animals) Static or dynamic At least behind rows of stalls Provision of resting area outside stalls Gilts may require training to back out of free-access stalls

28 Electronic Sow Feeders (ESF) Medium to XL groups ( animals) Static or dynamic No more than 60 animals per feeder Allow sows into feeders even when ration done Distance exit to entrance of feeder far enough apart to discourage circling back Time of reset affects aggression Use computer to identify sick sows

29 Electronic Sow Feeders (ESF) Pen designed with circular flow

30 Electronic Sow Feeders (ESF) Pen designed with non-circular flow