Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop has returned after a Covid-related cancellation in 2020. Alberta Pork and its sponsors offered an online version this year, sharing insights on various technical aspects of breeding, raising and marketing hogs. Across the board, most of the presentations – ran live on the afternoons of October 20 and 21 – boiled down to a common thread: Whatever you manage is not nearly as important as how you manage it.That theme arose continually in topics ranging from gilt development and facilities maintenance to hitting shipping targets and finding low-cost feed options.
Day 1 opened with Red Deer-based veterinarian Jessica Law talking about pre-wean mortality, engineer Rich Smith discussing proper assessment and management of ventilation systems and Ken Engele from Prairie Swine Centre discussing how to time shipments for maximum effect. Veterinarian Christa Arsenault from the National Farmed Animal Health and Welfare Council and Keith Lehman, Chief Provincial Veterinarian for Alberta wrapped up the first day with a discussion of the mechanisms in place for keeping African Swine Fever out of Canada and being prepared for an effective response if the disease is detected here. Their discussion is part of a separate story offering further insight into biosecurity and outbreak management, including efforts to eradicate feral pigs because of their potential as vectors for ASF and other diseases.
Presentations continued on Day 2 with Alastair Bratton, swine production for Olymel, talking about cutting costs by reducing feed and water waste followed by a short course in gilt development by Jennifer Patterson from Edmonton-based Livestock Gentec. Veterinary Professor Chris Rademacher, Director of the Iowa Pork Industry Centre at Iowa State University then gave his presentation about reducing sow mortality and Dan Bussières, swine nutritionist and co-founder of Groupe Cérès Inc. finished off the day with a talk about feed ingredients and low-cost options.
Bratton demonstrated in his session the very real costs of failing to manage and maintain mechanical systems including feeders, water systems, heating and ventilation as well as controlling rodents and managing shipments to prevent mortality.
Feed loss is the biggest cost, but small water leaks can add costs, there is a variety of factors involved in controlling shipping costs and rodents can eat at profits, spread disease and cause electrical fires said Bratton.He cautioned producers about shipping in hot weather, stating that loads should be reduced by eight to 10 per cent when it’s really hot and the pigs should not be held on the truck any longer than absolutely necessary. He advised producers to have the shipping manifest ready before starting to load and suggested that truckers sprinkle water on trailer bedding to help keep the animals from overheating in transport.
Patterson said gilt development begins at birth.
“I think it’s really important that you start with the end in mind. Our goal is to improve sow lifetime productivity and gilt replacement management.”

She offered a list of 10 principles as the basis for building a successful gilt development program:
1. Low individual birth weight: Gilts under 1.1 kg will have compromised survival and growth. Billy Flowers suggests they do not have the machinery to be efficient reproductively.
2. Gilts from a litter with a low birthweight phenotype become a challenge. As Jessica Law stated, all of these pigs will perform poorly. Gilts born to these sows will carry that phenotype. They account for 10 per cent of your herd and present greatest risk of pre-wean mortality and small birthweight pigs. This is a repeatable trait. There is an opportunity to better manage this.
3. Early response to effective boar stimuli is the critical selection tool. Ninety-five per cent of gilts will cycle in 100 days. Gilts that cycle within 210 days are select and those that take longer are non-select. As you select late cycling gilts, you are setting up a lifetime of poor productivity. There are good data to show that gilts selected for earlier cycling perform better overall, including better sow lifetime productivity, fewer non-productive days, more pigs born alive and better retention in the herd.
Direct contact with boars is more efficient than fence-line contact. Boars play an essential role, so should be chosen for their physical ability to stimulate gilts. Daily direct contact allows gilts the freedom to “solicit” the boars.

5. Recorded pubertal estrus by 200 days of age. A study with PIC in Mexico shows superior performance among gilts bred at second heat. Weight at breeding should be between 135 and 160 programs. Commercial gilt growth rates are really high. Late responding gilts are going to be overweight at second estrus. Implement an efficient gilt management program early enough to make sure selected gilts are bred on second estrus at target weight.
6. Heavy gilts are a risk factor for retention in the breeding herd. As breeding weight increases, retention rates drop off.
7. An established heat-no-serve program permits effective pre-breeding management. Any event that disrupts normal feed intake has an impact on LH secretion. This removes the critical priming effect of LH secretion on follicular development.
Risk situations for reduced feed intake:Relocating gilts within 16 days before breeding; Remixing of gilts before boar stimulation;Crowding that limits feed intake; Health incidents during these times; Water not flowing well in the troughs and Fighting & regrouping, fear.
Really watch those risk situations. Key components for gilt eligibility include age at puberty, feed management, weight at breeding and estrus at breeding. Delay breeding to third estrus only to meet minimum weight targets. Focus on the finish line. Our ultimate goal is to improve efficiency within our sow herd.
8. First litter size is predictive of lifetime performance. “Good gilts are consistently good sows.” This is why a good gilt management program is so essential. Make sure you have a good management strategy in place to maximize performance.
Trained staff: This is one of the most challenging factors, but having well-trained labour is vital. This one of the most important units in your farm.
10. Records and analysis. Make sure to record data actively. This tracks reproductive success and enables data-driven decision making. Data in the replacement gilts are often lacking. The goal is to ensure collect, record accurately and analyse data as a key tool for effective management.Full recordings of all presentations can be viewed on the Alberta Pork website: www.albertapork.com/red-deer-swine-technology-workshop •
— By Brenda Kossowan

The 2021 version of Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop was offered free of charge through support from Alberta Pork and its sponsors: AgSafe, Fortified Nutrition, Olymel, Immigration Care, Nutrition Partners, Precision Veterinary Services, Prairie Livestock Veterinarians, Prairie Hog Country, Farmers Depot and PIC.