Autumn can arrive and catch you unawares. Preparing for the conditions and problems that can occur at this time will help you minimise its affect on the herd's performance. A handy guide to the problems you might encounter, and how to address them, can be found below.
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Solution/Where to look for advice
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Reduction in day length |
Reducing light levels and day length are believed to affect the reproductive cycle. If the summer months have low light levels this effect on the reproductive cycle starts earlier. |
Indoor gestating sows need 14 – 16 hours of light per day.
Weaned sows need well-lit areas up to service, at least 150 lux for 16 hours a day.
Clean light fittings and replace broken lights.
Case study 8: Reproductive performance |
Fluctuation in day and night temperature |
Diurnal temperature fluctuations disrupt sows as they need to both lose and conserve heat at different times of the day. This affects the sow metabolism and can result in reduced blood sugar and stress which can detrimentally affect reproduction. This is a particular problem for sows weaned in poor condition (less than BCS 3) and which will be less able to maintain body temperature; these sows will have to mobilise body reserves if the feeding level is not sufficient to cover the environmental stress. |
Action for Productivity 21:Ventilation
Work instruction 15: Skip a heat
Increase the amount of bedding in the pen.
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Reproductive failure in late pregnancy |
Sows can return later in autumn due to natural breeding patterns.
There is an increased chance of late abortions, returns and sows found not in pig.
Achieving the target number of farrowings is paramount to achieving the target number of pigs sold and controlling production costs. |
Maintain boar contact throughout gestation and regularly check for returns with a boar. Preg check at around 4 and 6 weeks.
Plan for a 10-15% increase in gilts services if your unit has previously suffered autumn infertility.
Action for Productivity sheets:
29: Effective heat detection
31: Optimising timing of service |
New crops |
Digestibility problems can occur when feeding new crops from the recent harvest. |
If you notice any problems speak to your feed supplier and/or nutritionist.
KT Bulletin 9: Feed efficiency |
Semen quality |
Prolonged periods of hot weather can negatively affect sperm production and quality.
Boars can remain sub-fertile for up to eight weeks post heat stress. |
Refer to Solving Summer Reproductive Problems.
Do not overwork boars whose libido/semen quality remain acceptable.
Action for Productivity 30: Semen storage and handling
KT Bulletin 8: AI Standard |
Poor sow condition (from summer) |
Sows' appetites should be returning and it is an excellent time to improve any sows that have lost condition, ready for the winter.
Sows in good condition will return to oestrus normally (within 4-5 days). |
Increase feed level by 0.25-0.5 kg per day if sows have been on a summer feed curve. Action for Productivity sheets:
3: Heat stress (indoors)
4: Heat stress (outdoors)
20: Condition scoring of sows
KT Bulletin 7: Lactation feeding
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Feed management |
Mycotoxins can have detrimental affects on reproductive performance. |
Action for Productivity 8: Feed and straw management to reduce the risk of mycotoxins |
Rodents |
Rodent control is part of farm assurance.
Rodents will return to units as the weather gets cooler. Rats carry Leptospirosis which leads to reproductive failure; they also spread Salmonella and other diseases. |
Make sure control methods are suitable for your farm and that they are up-to-date.
Introduce a rota to start baiting vermin if you are not already operating a control programme. |