2. Coalface adoption of reproductive strategies. What can we learn from Australia’s Target 25 program? Paul Hughes Principal Scientist – Pigs & Poultry South Australian Research & Development Institute.

3. What did we do in Target 25 ?  Based on a combined on-farm, off-farm team approach  Targets only one measure of herd performance  The team decides what changes will be implemented  Changes are subjected to a 6-month trial period  Final changes are locked in for 1 year  Performance change measured against pre-Target 25 level

4. Target 25 results Trait Farrowing rate (%) Litter size (TB) T25 improvement 6.6% 0.8

5. What did we learn from Target 25 ?  Many herds are performing very poorly

6. Target 25 start data Farrowing rate % Litter size (born) SB & PWM % Litter size weaned Target 87+ 12+ <13 10.4 Worst 58 9.6 23.9 7.7

7. What did we learn from Target 25 ?  Many herds are performing very poorly  What is happening at the coalface is rarely what management thinks is happening

8. What did we learn from Target 25 ?  Many herds are performing very poorly  What is happening at the coalface is rarely what management thinks is happening  Most of the problems are attributable to 2 issues:  Lack of good information  Failure to pay attention to detail

9. Q. Where did most Target 25 herds fail ? A. Everywhere !

10. 1.Gilt management Inadequate/no use of boar stimulation Use of young or low stimulus value boars Use of Regumate on pre-pubertal & grouped gilts Underfeeding Assumed cyclicity – many pubertal matings Overcrowded Low gilt cull rates

11. Suggested Gilt Management Framework Select gilts at 22-23 weeks & 100kg+ Start daily boar contact at 25-28 weeks Mate gilts at 30-34 weeks Cull unmated gilts at 34 weeks

12. 2. Weaned sow management Early weaned (<19-21 days) Weaned in poor condition Underfed after weaning Housed in fenceline contact with boars Overcrowded

13. 3. Heat detection Inadequate facilities poor boar contact Poor technique – no BPT or BPT/no boar Use of low stimulus value boars

14. 4. Timing of mating/AI First mating/AI too early Repeating mating/AI every 12 hours Many late (post ovulatory) matings/AIs

15. 5. Boar management Under-use & occasional overuse Underfeeding Use of old boars Little checking on fertility/fecundity

16. 6. AI management Poor semen storage conditions – temp. & turning Use of old semen Poor boar control during AI Catheter removal & sow movement too early No record of quality of inseminator Inseminator fatigue (larger herds only)

17. 7. Gestation management Mixing & others stresses in early gestation Overfeeding & underfeeding Poor return checking – timing & boar presence Poor PDs – timing, equipment & technique

18. What Causes Regular & Irregular Returns ? Mating Farrowing Day 11Day 17-19

19. What Causes Regular & Irregular Returns ? Mating Farrowing Day 11Day 17-19 Am I pregnant ?

20. What Causes Regular & Irregular Returns ? Mating Farrowing Day 11Day 17-19 Am I still pregnant ?

21. Some “Rules” on Regular & Irregular Returns Ratio of 3:6 week returns must be more than 4:1 Ratio of regular:irregular returns must be more than 3:1

22. Better heat detection in dry sows <25 4% 60% Returns profile (days after breeding) 25-38 12% 20% 39-45 29% 15% >45 55% 5% A profile I’ve seen Optimal profile Not using boars for heat detection Relying on ultrasound pregnancy checks at ~4 weeks

23. 7. Farrowing management No farrowing induction or night shifts Slow intervention with farrowing problems (25-45+ m.) Inappropriate use of oxytocin Lack of routines for assistance at farrowing

24. 8. Lactation management Inadequate cleaning procedures (wet floors etc.) Not using shift suckling (labour) Little use of second heat sources Poor cross-fostering technique Sows entering farrowing house in variable condition Inadequate feed intakes in lactation Poor/variable sow condition at weaning

25. Target 25 - Conclusions  There is great variation in performance between herds with most Australian breeding herds performing well below their potential  Raising breeding herd performance is mainly a result of attention to known details (N.B. not always known to breeding herd staff) rather than the application of new knowledge - i.e. this isn’t rocket science  To achieve lasting performance improvements requires the real involvement of breeding herd staff:  They must gain extra knowledge  They must believe the changes will work

26. Thank you