Genetics: Asking the right questions will boost your bottom line

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Knowing things like optimum breeding and feeding patterns and the best management practices to generate top performance can have a significant impact on your performance and profitability

by SERGE POMMIER

What questions should producers ask genetics suppliers to ensure that they're getting the best performance from their genetics? That's a question a producer recently put to me and I think the answer is worth repeating in this column.

Strong genetic performance is the result of three things working together effectively – the genetics, management advice from the genetics supplier, and a producer's management skills and ability. Quite simply, knowing things like optimum breeding and feeding patterns and the best management practices to generate top performance can have a significant impact on your bottom line.

Quebec surveys, for example, reveal a $30 spread in cost of production between the most efficient and least efficient producers. Much of this spread can be directly related to a genetics company's ability to provide the right management advice and support, combined with a producer's ability to integrate recommendations into the management of his operation.

What questions you should ask really depends on your situation. For the purposes of this article, let's focus on a scenario where you're buying gilts that you'll acclimatize to your existing herd. When talking to your genetics supplier, first ask about the availability of stock and technical support. What is the age and weight of gilts that can be delivered and what vaccinations have they received or need to be given? This will involve consultation between veterinarians for both the producer and the genetics supplier.

There are key questions related to breeding you'll want to get a handle on. For instance, what weight and age should you target in terms of first breeding? Is the recommendation to breed at 135 kilograms, 210 days of age and at least one recorded heat the best way to go? This may be dictated by how the gilts are introduced into the herd and the possibility of boar exposure during the gilt development process. And there are other factors to consider, such as at what age you should start boar exposure. What frequency and length of boar exposure is needed to be effective?

Establishing the right feeding program is critical. You can't expect the same feeding management to work for different genetics. Ask about the feeding rate and growth rate for your genetics, particularly if you are producing your own gilts or bringing them in as breeder weaners. What feeding rates are required for gestation?

Ask about body condition and how it should be evaluated. Are backfat measurements the best? How about body condition scores? Can we work with both measurements and how can we reconcile them? Should we adjust the feeders at the beginning of gestation and forget them until farrowing? Feeding patterns need to be modified to ensure the animals are not over- or under-conditioned.

How gilts are managed in the farrowing house can also have a great influence on your potential profit. Knowing if and when gilts should be induced to farrow are two things you should ask about. Other considerations: What is the impact on piglet viability and survival? What are the trade-offs?

Cross fostering, colostrum intake, and loading the sows with the piglets all have the common denominator of maximizing milking efficiency and piglet nutrition. Questions related to feeding become the focus again after farrowing. Proper lactation feeding programs allow the mother to give piglets a good start and ensure they get the required nutrition needed to grow properly. Lactation feeding also has an impact on weaning weights, which has a definite influence on the grow-finish performance of the animals and the time they take to get to slaughter. 

In addition, getting the right feeding program for lactating sows affects her return to heat. There is a definite amount of feed and nutrients necessary to ensure maximum weaning weights and sow body condition, and this intake is maximized by proper feeding management. Her wean-to-oestrus interval must be as short as possible and her body condition going back into heat needs to be adequate in order to be re-bred.

Second parity dips are often the result of poor feeding management in the first lactation. You could offer full feed or restrict feed for the first one or two days, then provide full feed. These are different approaches that need to be considered to maximize intake during the lactation period.

There are plenty of more questions to be asked. Genetics companies should be able to provide you with benchmarks and intervention levels. If these indicators signal that intervention is necessary, you should ask the company to audit your herd in order to diagnose the problems and provide solutions.

When it comes to the grow-finish side of the business, there are enough questions for another article. Keep in mind that the way pigs are managed pre-slaughter also has an impact on meat quality. Knowing how to manage your genetics can also produce gains in this area.

This inquisitive approach should be followed prior to purchasing your genetics and up until your pigs reach the slaughter house. The bottom line is that there's a big dollar differential between properly and poorly managed genetics. If you're investing in top genetics, ask the right questions and rely on your genetics provider for the technical support and insights that will deliver optimum results.

Serge Pommier, PhD, is director of technical operations for PIC in Canada.