Rescue deck boosts survival in large litters
Like many pig producers striving to optimise pig performance, Stuart Bosworth was faced with the challenge of maximising piglet survival from ever-increasing litter sizes.
Genetic improvement on the 270-sow farrow-to-finish unit has seen litter size increase at a rate of one extra pig born alive in each litter every four years and the herd is on track to achieve 14 piglets born alive in each litter.
Consequently, Mr Bosworth wanted to adopt a future-proofed system to help manage these high- performing sows.
With the help of a BPEX innovation fund grant, the farm trialled a Rescue Deck system – a set-up widely adopted in the Netherlands where high-performance sows are common. The farm has since witnessed an increase in weaning rates from 11.3 piglets a litter to just over 12 from 13.25 born alive.
A Rescue Deck is a specially designed box that includes a milk line system to help rear surplus piglets. Stronger piglets can be placed in the box from three days old, after they have had their first colostrum feed.
Competition reduced
By placing the strongest piglets from a litter into the deck, competition at the sow’s udder is reduced, allowing the smaller piglets to gain weight. The Rescue Decks can be kept in the farrowing shed, usually on the separation between farrowing crates.
Such a set-up can not only aid piglet survival and litter uniformity, but also maintain sow performance, says Mr Bosworth.
“Large litter sizes place huge pressure on the modern, lean genotype sow, particularly during lactation. As a result, body condition can suffer at weaning, potentially affecting ovulation rates and subsequent fertility.
“Any stress on pigs acts as a drain on performance, and extra dry sow feeding to correct poor condition in early gestation is expensive,” comments Mr Bosworth.
“I thought it would make sense to keep sows in even condition throughout their lifetime to promote longevity by helping them rear these larger litters with a supplementary rearing system.”
Mr Bosworth also believes the 10 Rescue Decks have helped manage the uneven piglet sizes commonly seen in larger litters.
Before the decks, piglets that had to suckle off the sow’s back teats, especially on the older sows, were always behind on growth rate to weaning. That set the trend for poor lifetime growth rates in these “marginal” pigs, as well as a higher chance of health problems.
Since the business started using the decks, there has been a further increase in litter size, as sows are in better condition at weaning. Weaner quality is also more even, pre-weaning mortality has reduced and the effect on staff morale has been priceless, says Mr Bosworth.
With the aid of the deck system, the farm’s farrowing room specialist Alex Lake expects to achieve 30 pigs weaned a sow a year very soon.
The BPEX trial demonstrated the extra piglets reared by having the deck system would pay for the initial investment in two and a half years. The initial investment included a new kitchen where milk powder is mixed, a compressor to drive the pneumatic milk pump and an electric hot water system for mixing the milk powder each day.
“The piglets take to the milk immediately on entering the decks and are able to drink from the milk cups whenever they feel hungry,” explains Mr Bosworth.
He believes the fact the deck-reared piglets can hear the sounds of the sows and piglets in the same farrowing room acts as a stimulus for them to drink. The aim is to wean piglets by 21 days, as after this the deck system becomes less economical.
However, Mr Bosworth highlights one particular drawback of the Rescue Decks. At present, the best milk powder for the system includes a small amount of spray dried porcine plasma protein (SDPP), which has been banned by Red Tractor Assurance.
Despite trying a number of different powders, Mr Bosworth believes it is the SDPP that develops the piglet’s natural immunity and lets them thrive on the decks. At present the NPA is discussing the plasma ban. However Mr Bosworth has been forced to leave the Red Tractor Assurance behind as a result, meaning he receives an average 1p/kg deadweight less.