This document discusses strategies for maximizing lifetime sow production through gilt development programs and sow herd management. It emphasizes the importance of gilt growth rate and parity 1 litter size on lifetime performance. Specific recommendations include ad libitum feeding for gilts, flushing before breeding, and training gilts for electronic sow feeding systems. For sow herds, the focus should be on maximizing feed intake from farrowing to breeding through aggressive lactation diets and continued feeding after weaning. Novel approaches discussed include using linoleic acid to reduce seasonal infertility impacts. Overall, the key is continual evaluation and optimization of all production phases.

1. Feeding Sows for Maximum
Lifetime Production

2. What are we trying to measure?
• Chronological age
• There is no greater harm than that of time wasted -
Michelangelo
• Other options
• Parity at removal
• Pigs / day of productive life
• Lifetime pigs / gilt entered

3. Reasons for Removal
Evaluating Differences in Retention
Taken from Culbertson, 2007; Discover Conference

4. Reasons for Removal
Evaluating Differences in Retention
Taken from Culbertson, 2007; Discover Conference

5. Gilt Development Feeding Program
The Non-Negotiables
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
Figure 1: Performance By Parity Based
on P-1 Litter Size
1 2 3 4 5
Litter Size (TB)
Parity
<= 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 >=17
5.1K females w/full data from P1 to P5 in the US Midwest. Different farms, health status, and genotypes
(70% CAMs)
Source: Pinilla, Molinari, Coates, Piva, Thompson, Teuber and Canavate (2014)
• By far, largest variation in litter size is at P1.
• Good gilts are consistently good sows: sow lifetime performance is decided in P1
• 1 pig difference at P1 = 0.4 pigs per farrowing in the P1-P5 interval.

6. Reasons for Removal
• General agreement
across data sets and
with current industry
experience
• Repro failure and poor
performance
• Old age and feet / leg
• Mortality / injury

7. Impact of Seasonal Infertility
• What is seasonal infertility?
• A reduction in ability to successfully demonstrate normal
estrus behavior or produce a target quality litter from
matings during the late summer months
• Why?
• Pig is naturally a seasonal breeder…domestication has
changed the need

8. Impacts of Seasonal Infertility
What Happens?
• Increase in…
• Wean to service interval
• Regular / Irregular returns
• Number of anoestrus gilts
• Decrease in…
• Farrowing rate
• Numbers farrowed

9. Why is Lifetime Performance Important?
Impact on System Profitability
• Impact on wean pig cost
• Welfare implications
• Health and production implications for growing
pigs

10. Feeding Females for Maximum
Lifetime Production

11. So…where should we focus…
Weaning
Birth

12. Impacting Future Results
• Distinct phases with
differing goals
• Gilt development
• Breeding to farrowing
• Farrowing to breeding
• Components of feeding
program
• Management
considerations
• Diet and ingredients

13. Gilt Development Program
The Non-Negotiables
• Always remember the impact of P1 performance on
lifetime production
• Increasing chances to get better P1 performance by
– Ad lib feed until first breeding and ensure an optimum
ADG range allow higher litter size in P1
– HNS program that make the system to breed 95%+ of
the gilts with at least 1 HNS

14. Gilt Development Program
The Non-Negotiables
• Design the GDU to allow optimum management for the
practical variation that exists in how we use them today
- Dynamic flows to match up with the utilization of
health management programs to combat specific
scenarios
- Stocking densities, flooring and feeder/water space
that contribute to growth performance and high rates
of voluntary selection

15. Gilt Development
Nutrition Considerations
• Recommendations
• Ad libitum feeding for maximum performance
• Lysine : Calorie ratio similar to market hogs
• Gilt specific diets after approximately 135lb
• Increased micronutrients
• Higher calcium and phosphorous
• Potential inclusion of zinc, manganese, copper
• Avoid terminal market diets
• Sow VTM starting at this point

16. Gilt Development Program
Impact of Gain on P1 Performance
Source: Adapted from G. Castro
• Faster growing gilts attain puberty earlier and have lower anoestrus rate
(Bertolozzo et al., 2009)
• Slow growing gilts don’t do as well as faster growing ones but up to some
point….Lameness can be a problem (culling) when breeding gilts to heavy

17. Gilt Development Program
Impact of Flushing Pre-Breeding
Farm Avg. Sow
Inventory
Avg. TB Pre Avg TB Post Difference
1 2,600 13.5 14.2 0.7
2 3,500 13.5 14.1 0.6
3 2,700 13.6 14.4 0.8
4 1,300 12.7 13.6 0.9
5 1,300 12.6 13.9 1.3
6 5,600 12.9 14.2 1.3
Total or Avg 17,000 1.2
Source: Adapted from: Pinilla, Teuber, Piva and Coates (2013). AASV Proceedings
Marginal Cost = $6.8 (18 d full feed; +2.5 lb/d) ; $0.15/lb)
Marginal Revenue = $40.8 (1.2 pigs x 85% piglet conversion x $40 piglet price)
MOFC = $ 34.1 per gilt
Cost : Benefit = 1 : 5

18. Gilt Development Program
Impact of Managing Weight at Mating
Figure 2: Effect Of >240 Day Old Gilts on Subsequent WSI Length & P2 Litter Size
WSI, days P2 littersize
In average, every 10% of heavier gilts…
Add 0.7 extra days in WSI
Reduce P2 litter size vs P1 by 0.3 pigs
Practical Implication – How to manage the variation?
16.0
15.0
14.0
13.0
12.0
11.0
10.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% of Gilts Bred Above the Weight/Age Range

19. Gilt Development Program
Training for Electronic Sow Feeding
Training Flow:
GROWER GDU SOW FARM
Full Feed for or
Breeding
Go to pen
in max 3
days after
breeding
Go to pen
after 35
days of
gestation
2 weeks
Training for 2
weeks
Contact with
gates
Gilt
Weight
60-210lbs 210-280lbs 280-300lbs 300-320lbs

20. Gilt Development Program
Impact of Health Acclimation Program

21. Farrowing to Breeding
Impact of Maximizing Lactation Intake
• Total Intake
• Aggressive
• 6 lb increase
• On Demand
• 30 lb increase
• Wean-to estrus interval
• Cycling sows only
• Slow: 5.4 d
• Aggressive: 5.3 d
• Full: 5.3 d
28.13
14.13 15.15
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Slow Aggressive Full on Demand
Sows not bred 7-d post-wean, %
Sows Not Bred 7-d Post-Wean
Data from PIC C29 sow population

22. Farrowing to Breeding
Impact of Maximizing Lactation Intake
RANGE OF
ADFI n TB WEI WT VAR
< 10 LBS 36 12.61 5.36 -5.93
10.0-10.4 28 13.11 5.32 -4.69
10.5-10.9 48 13.38 5.40 -3.17
11.0-11.4 71 13.42 5.14 -2.58
11.5-11.9 170 13.56 5.47 -2.66
12.0-12.5 71 13.85 4.77 -3.46
Within a sow
population,
lactation
feed intake is
still one of
the biggest
sources of
variation in
subsequent
performance

23. Lysine Impact on Milk Production
(48) (54) (58) (59) (63)

24. P4+ Lysine Requirement
• 10 treatment groups consuming between 35.2 and 78.2 grams SID
Lysine/day from Corn-SBM based diet
• Using Linear broken line analysis, the SID Lysine requirement for
older Parity sows was found to be 62 g/d to maximize Litter Weight
Gain.
• This is similar to the results found for P1 animals

25. Farrowing to Breeding
Preliminary Proof of Concept – Intake after Weaning
Parity distribution: P1= 21%, P2 – P5 = 69%, P6+ = 10%
Weanings of September of 2013.
N= 250 sows.
Nipple drinkers and dry feed.

26. Farrowing to Weaning
Post-Weaning Intake – Concepts We Gathered
• When well managed and healthy, weaned sows tend to
eat more than people believe they will
• It’s key to realize the value of the feed eaten after the
weaning
• Be careful of items that limit intake – running water too
soon, etc
• Feed weaned sows at least twice daily
• Main effect is realized in Parities 2 and 3
Trial Control Difference Better/Worse
Avg WSI 4.8 d 6.2 d 1.4 d Better
Bred by d 7 96.4% 87.6% 8.8% Better
Litter Size 13.7 12.4 1.3 Better

27. Farrowing to Breeding
Feeding the Weaned Sow – Field Validation
Trial Control Difference Better/Worse
Avg WSI 4.4 d 5.3 d 0.9 d Better
Bred by d 7 97.5% 92.8% 4.7% Better
Sows 279 391
Total Feed 41 lb 30 lb 11 lb Better
ADFI 9.3 lb/d 5.7 lb/d 3.6 lb/d Better
Litter Size 13.9 12.9 1.0 Better
Source: PIC non-published data (2014).
Marginal Cost = $1.4 (11 lb x $0.13/d)
Marginal Revenue = $34 (1.0 pig x 85% piglet conversion x $40 piglet price)
MOFC = $ 32.6 / sow
Cost : Benefit = 1 : 23

28. Novel Focus Areas
Seasonal Infertility
• New research is being done that highlights potential
opportunities to modulate response of some at-risk
females
• Increases sow herd performance
• Improves breeding female retention
• Special thanks to David Rosero for his recent
dissertation on work conducted in the Hanor system

29. Seasonal Infertility
Linoleic Acid’s Impact on Pregnancy Retention
Taken from Rosero, 2014; “Nutritional Value of Dietary Lipids in Lactating Sow Diets “

30. Seasonal Infertility
Linoleic Acid Impact on Culling Rate
Taken from Rosero, 2014; “Nutritional Value of Dietary Lipids in Lactating Sow Diets “

31. Diet Considerations
Linoleic Acid’s Impact on Farrowing Rate
Taken from Rosero, 2014; “Nutritional Value of Dietary Lipids in Lactating Sow Diets “

32. Diet Considerations
Linoleic Acid Impact on Future Litter Size
Taken from Rosero, 2014; “Nutritional Value of Dietary Lipids in Lactating Sow Diets “

33. Dietary Considerations
Economics of Added Energy
Taken from Rosero, 2014; “Nutritional Value of Dietary Lipids in Lactating Sow Diets “

34. Dietary Considerations
Economics of Added Linoleic Acid
Taken from Rosero, 2014; “Nutritional Value of Dietary Lipids in Lactating Sow Diets “

35. So…what does this mean?
• Have a good plan on gilt development
• Facilities and flows – for the routine/routine and the
routine/special scenarios
• Good growing gilt performance = good sow
performance
• Time spent on gilt development is a good
investment
• Heat no serve
• Flushing pre-breeding
• ESF training

36. So…what does this mean?
• Managing the sow herd has two distinct phases
• Breeding to farrowing
• Managing body condition
• Less critical than historically thought
• Farrowing to breeding
• Not farrowing to weaning
• All about maximizing good intake

37. So…what does this mean?
• Changing realities should cause us to continue to
challenge our perspectives
• Higher total production output
• Greater efficiency of the biological process
• Changing production environments – facilities, health, etc
• Continually search for and revisit opportunities
• Novel nutritional strategies
• Acclimation / health programs
• Expectations for the pigs and people