Compared to the end of the last century, current sows are more prolific and leaner. These sows are less long-lived and show a higher replacement rate, which in many farms exceeds 50%. Mortality by sudden death around farrowing, lameness and replacement of primiparous sows are the reasons for discarding that have increased the most. Larger litters mean greater weight variability of the piglet at birth, more difficulties in raising and fattening low birth weight piglets, and greater preweaning mortality, especially during the 1st 72h postnatal.
Considering the productive data recorded in commercial farms of different pig production companies, the main causes should be sought both in the rearing and entry of young sows into the productive cycle and in the capacity for adaptation and effort that the sow must make during the first productive cycle, and to a lesser extent, the second. Without a doubt, not considering the health sphere, it is necessary to review and modify the feeding and handling standards traditionally used during these periods.
This project focuses on the research work on rearing and entering the gilts in the sow farm and the first two productive cycles of the young sow, although productive results will also be obtained throughout the entire productive life. The proposal, presented by two research teams, one from the UAB (Subproject 1) and the other from IRTA (Subproject 2), is structured in three blocks:
a) study the effect of feeding at early rearing ages on growth and body composition of the sow at the entrance of the productive cycle and on its long-life and productivity
b) find a method, easy to implement under commercial conditions, to differentiate between “viable” (supposedly high longevity) and “non-viable” gilts (of supposedly compromised longevity) before entering the productive cycle
c) to study and provide solutions to reduce both the sow herd disappearance (mortality and slaughter) and those of pre-weaning mortality in piglets.
The first block will be executed jointly; the UAB team will address it under commercial conditions with a high number of animals, and the IRTA team will address it under experimental conditions with a greater risk in the experimental designs and a smaller number of animals. In both cases, in addition to the growth, body composition, and future productivity of the young sow, special emphasis is placed on the development of the mammary gland and the evolution of the immune status of the gilt and young sow. In the second block, mainly the responsibility of the UAB team and based on the results obtained in the first block, a simple method applicable under commercial conditions will be obtained, aiming to differentiate gilts at the end of the rearing period. This method will be based on the prediction of gilt’s future longevity and will try to reduce early culling of sows in the sow herd (LonGilt). Finally, the third block, mainly the responsibility of the IRTA team, is a more fundamental, metabolic, and physiological work aiming to modulate hormonal profile and oxidative status of the gilt, enhancing fertility and reproductive parameters, and favouring the passive immunity of the piglet.
The results of the project must contribute to reducing and optimizing the sow’s replacement rate, to reduce piglet mortality and welfare and to optimize the productivity and longevity of today’s sows.
This is a coordinated project between UAB-SNiBA and IRTA (PID2023-146956OB-C21/C22) in which the coordinating entity is UAB and is conducted between both intitutions to address and solve actual problems of the swine industry.
Proyecto PID2023-146956OB-C21 financiado por:
