To stay commercially viable producers obviously have to be more efficient and this has great implications in the UK as the future re Brexit is still decidedly unclear. UK indoor output lags behind the rest of Europe which is very worrying. Significantly all our European competitors have research farms – the Danes also use many commercial units for new equipment trials – with the findings helping to boost productivity. Back in the day the UK had ADAS (Agricultural Development & Advisory Service), a nationwide network of Government advisers giving unbiased advice on anything pig wise. ADAS also had the Experimental Husbandry Farms (EHFs) which did a great job carrying out unbiased research, on all aspects of production. Sadly Maggie Thatcher gave them the chop with funding going instead to basic research. England also had the National Agricultural Centre pig unit near Coventry. Sadly this got the chop as well. National pig lead body MLC had a 300 sow farrow-to-finish unit carrying out first class applied research, but which also, sadly, bit the dust. However, the wheel turns full circle. Fast forward to 2016, when the Agriculture / Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Pork came up with its Focus Farm initiative. An industry led project, the Focus Farm offers the opportunity for farmers, vets and industry experts to discuss challenges facing our pig industry through open discussion and tours of commercial units. New ideas and technologies will be tested and implemented to improve performance on Focus Farms. After interviewing a number of candidates David Goodier, who farms 245 sows near Preston, Lancs was selected as the first Focus Farmer. Goodier impressed the interviewing panel with his down to earth attitude, his willingness to accept criticism and to share all his physical and financial records. The first meeting which took place in June 2016, included a tour of the host farm when David’s production data was given severe scrutiny plus any problem areas on the farm noted for further frank discussion.

The Focus Farm group of around 60 producers and trades specialists met again in April 2017. Goodier felt that his farrowing rate was still too low and after consultation with Garth Vets decided to blood test any sows not in-pig. The results indicated that Leptospirosis was present in the herd and was contributing towards the low farrowing rates. To help counteract this a new vaccination programme has been introduced and the service routine was reviewed.

Focus Areas on the Focus Farm

• Service Routine

• Following an AI service review, the following areas were selected for improvement.

• Reduce handling area to save time

• Improve heat detection and the AI area

• Control boar contact

• Reduce the interval between boar contact and insemination

• Reduce potential stress post AI

• Improve semen storage

New AI Area

Two separate AI pens were built to promote accurate heat detection and improve the insemination environment for sows and operators. A post AI rest area has been provided where sows can relax before being returned to the group- sows are left undisturbed for 20 minutes after insemination.

Improved semen storage in the new AI area

A thermostatically controlled storage box has been fitted in the service house, between the two AI pens. This will improve the storage of semen in the AI area.

Next Steps

Review effectiveness of heat detection procedures

Introduce pre-stimulation procedure PIGSIS – oestrus mapping. The time when sows come on heat is recorded as is the insemination time and this information is sent across to the Netherlands for analysis.

Reducing Pre-Weaning Mortality:

The unit’s pre-weaning mortality was 15 per cent when the project started, much higher than the industry average and measures were implemented to try and get this down around 10 per cent. The pre-weaning mortality though dropped significantly from 15 per cent to 11.09 per cent (12months to April 2017) close to the target of 10 per cent with some batches averaging 5.8 per cent. These results are being attributed to staff training. The unit’s split suckling management strategy and farrowing house routine have been refined. Only the tips of the piglets’ eye teeth are ground off, to help reduce Joint Ill. Placing a heat lamp behind the sow dries the piglets off straight after birth and reduces chilling and chopped newspaper is preferred to straw as it soaks up more fluids. An Opticare supplementary milk system was installed in some of the farrowing pens in the fall of 2017, and this has resulted in increased creep feed intake and an improvement of 0.75 kg in weaning weights.

Unit staff are being trained in post mortem analysis of piglets as specific management practices can be improved if the cause of death can be identified.

Tim Miller is ventilation specialist with ARM buildings. His simple take home message to get the best out of buildings is, “regular cleaning and maintenance of fans, flaps, cables etc. is the key.”

Goodier has had an ARM fully slatted 360 place finishing house built, with a Danish company, Veng System A/S providing the ventilation system. The minimum ventilation speed is based on C02 levels and this will be the first house in the UK using this concept. Goodier asked for suggestions regarding the house in general – feeder / drinker placement etc., plus suggestions for improving output. Measuring P2 fat depth on gilts at service and farrowing were two which were suggested. It was fascinating to sit back and just listen to the comments, which came thick and fast. Goodier was effectively having his unit planned by a 60 strong committee!

Whilst gilt management is still a key area to work on more young females are now being retained and are moving into the productive parities of three, four and five which is improving the herd parity profile. However there is still 20 per cent of the herd in the least productive tail.

Water quality is a topical issue in the UK at the moment and finding a slime-like biofilm in the weaner house water system instigated a water test programme to reduce coliform bacteria. Deep cleaning between batches and leaving hydrogen peroxide (EndoSan) in the pipes for 24 hours was not effective, however additional continuous low level dosing with EndoSan proved much more effective in reducing coliforms.

All the Focus Farm data is recorded on Porcitech, a very detailed pig management software tool, which is used by progressive producers worldwide. Hence Goodier’s farm is recorded in great detail, both in terms of physical and financial output.

So what has being in the Focus Farm spotlight done for Goodier ? Live born /litter is a big issue in the UK as they are lower than in other European countries so boosting this by 0.8 of a pig is very encouraging, although the rise in pre -weaning mortality needs further investigation. Some readers might not be impressed by these data but do remember Goodier is not just a pig farmer; he has poultry and arable as well. Many other suggested improvements are still working their way through the system and once the tail end parity sows are culled breeding herd output should increase further. Goodier was a bit dubious at the start of the project and now he’s really got the bit between his teeth. The Focus Farm concept is a fascinating one and AHDB Pork plans on getting other farmers to join the scheme. This can only be a good thing for the financial health of the UK industry, something that will be needed over the next few uncertain years that lie ahead. •

— By Norman Crabtree