GILT ISOLATION ANDGILT ISOLATION AND ACCLIMATION MANAGEMENT
Dale W Rozeboom and Barbara E StrawDale W. Rozeboom and Barbara E. StrawMichigan State University
2007 Discover ConferenceSeptember 9-12, 2007
N h ill I diNashville, Indiana
Pork productionPork production
Isolation & Acclimation 30 to 120 d pre-breeding
Gilt Grow-Finish Gilt Nursery
G t tiLactation≤ P1
Nursery
Breeding
GestationWean≥ P2
Grow-Finish
MarketFurther ProcessingCull sows post-weaning
Market, render, burial, compost, incinerate
g
Consumptionand cull boars
Gilt developmentGilt development
Effect on breeding herd efficiencyNBA/sow/lifetimeNBA/sow/lifetimeNPDUtilization of cratesUtilization of cratesCulling rate - 43%Mortality - 5.9%
Isolation and AcclimationIsolation and Acclimation
Isolation (Quarantine)To prevent disease spread from incoming gilts p p g gto the breeding herd
AcclimationManaged time necessary to familiarize gilts to life in the breeding herd
IsolationIsolation
Several hundred feet or more away from herd3 to 6 weeks only
Blood test for PRV and BrucellosisVaccinate for erysipelasObserve for clinical disease, scours, and mange
Use separate boots and overalls when handlingHave extra person care for them, or do boar chores at end of day and do not return to breeding herdat end of day and do not return to breeding herdGilts purchased at 6 months of age
Bred 1 month after arrival
IsolationIsolation
Blood test results are interpreted as follows with a veterinarian's advice:
PRV - cullB ll i llBrucellosis - cullTGE – maybe cull; contact supplier to determine when boar was exposedLeptospirosis – vaccinate (+ sample is desired)Hemophilus – cullPRRS llPRRS may cullParvovirus - vaccinate (+ sample is desired)Bordetella bronchiseptica - cullAR - cull
Di l f i l h i li i l i f di h ld bDisposal of animals showing clinical signs of disease should be done after consulting a veterinarianVaccinate with all vaccines used on sowsTreat for parasites
Factors to manageFactors to manage
TimeReproductionpFacilitiesSeasonNutritionDiseaseS dSoundnessCulling
ManagementManagement
HusbandryExperience or backgroundObservation skillsObservation skillsRecord keeping skillsKnowledge TraininggPracticeSupervision
Observing for health changes T ti f ill tTreating for illness, etc.Fitness monitoringSoundness assessmentCulling decisionsCulling decisions
TimeTime
IsolationMonitor diseaseMinimum of 30 days
Acclimation60 to 120 d
Cool down or recovery
When to move in and out?Desired age at breeding minus isolation and acclimationacclimation
ReproductionReproduction
Identify puberty and estrus cyclesFactorsFactors
StimulationFacilitiesSeasonNutritionDisease, parasites and mycotoxinsExogenous hormonesG tGenotype
Distribution of age at pubertyDistribution of age at puberty
Source: Levis, EC 97-274
Puberty StimulationPuberty Stimulation
TransportationMixingMixingVaccinationBoar exposure in isolation/acclimationBoar exposure in isolation/acclimation
Induction of earlier pubertal heatInitiate puberty stimulation at 160 d of ageInitiate puberty stimulation at 160 d of age
Sell anestrous gilts as market hogs
Effect of full boar or fence-line t t f b tcontact on age of puberty
200
Study 1 Study 2 Study 3
B
190
200
ty, d
ays
b
bA
180
at p
uber
t b
a
160
170
Age
a aa
160Full boar Fenceline
abc (P < .01); AB (P < .02), D. Levis
Quality of Boar ExposureQuality of Boar Exposure
Mature BoarsHigh Libido
Constant and adequate supplyGilt: Boar ratio of 15:1
Limit to 1 hr per dayLimit to 1 hr per dayFull physical contact
Boar in pen with gilts (15 min)T i d ilTwice daily
Greatest response early morning
Neutral area
Hormonal interventionHormonal intervention
Anestrous giltsPG-600®
Cycling giltsMatrix™ (approved for gilts)for gilts)Prostaglandins (no label approval)
FacilitiesFacilities
FacilitiesIdeally separate barns – 1500 ft or morey p
Avoid poor reproduction and injuryPoorly cast cement slats
Too rough or too smoothFlooring improperly cleaned, always wet, or wornCrowdingCrowding
10-12 ft2/gilt#/pen ?
Excessive pit gasesExcessive pit gases
SeasonSeason
Variation in reproductive performance due to change in temperaturetemperature, humidity, and (or) lightSummer vacations
Heat stressHeat stress
Pigs feel heat based on both temperature and humidityand humidity
Thermoneutral zone is 45º to 70º F Humidity between 50 to 60%Heat stress affects reproduction at > 80 º F
Establish a larger cyclic gilt pool before heat stress beginsProvide a “Cool Zone” to reduce anestrus
2005 Professional Managers Conference, Gilt Pool Management – Todd See
Effect of duration of light on age at puberty
190
200
180
190
Puberty, d Study 1Study 2
170
1600 9 to 10.8 18
Duration of light, hrsCanada, 1979, From: Don Levis. 2005 Professional Managers Conference, Gilt Pool Management – T. See
NutritionNutrition
ZearalenoneDelays puberty and interrupts cycle,Delays puberty and interrupts cycle,Normalize 3 to 4 weeks after removal
NutritionNutrition
Time to change body condition
Full feed lean giltsFull feed lean giltsIncreased energyDecrease amino acid concentrationconcentrationMake fatter
Limit feed "average-lean" giltsAvoid “too” fatAvoid too fat
Vitamin E 30 IU/lbMedication
NutritionNutrition
Targeted body condition at breedingWith excellent P1 feeding in gestation andWith excellent P1 feeding in gestation and lactation, gilts can be bred at 200 to 210 d of age, 260 to 280 lb, and 15 to 20 mm backfatOtherwise wait until 220 to 260 d of age, 300 lb and 20 to 25 mm of backfat
P2 Fat recovery, mm Feeding protocol (d 30 to 90 of gestation)
8 60 d at 7.5 lb/d CSBM
4 60 d at 6.2 lb/d CSBM
DiseaseDisease
Acclimate to expose to PRRS and other diseases (influenza, E. coli, and parvovirus)
Sentinel animalsShedding pigsTeaser boarOther source of pathogens from destination herd
» Serum injections, Tissue feedback, Tonsillar scrapings, Works if 100% of all incoming animals get disease and theWorks if 100% of all incoming animals get disease and the protection of immunity from future infection
DiseaseDisease
If gilts are going into a breeding herd with acute PPRS, then acclimation may work short-term to lessen the reproductive devastation of the disease.Gilts with infectious disease may overwhelm the immunity of older sows and cause activeimmunity of older sows, and cause active outbreaks.Acclimation does not eliminate PRRS.Closing the herd to new PRRS variants and working to get have a PRRS negative herd is the desired goalgoal.
Example system (Moore et al., 2005)
AIAO finishingIn at 25 kgg2 wk post-entry serum injection and shedding pigsGoal acclimation complete before 130 d of age0.9 m2
16 hr of lightV i ti d i “ d f t i b ”Vaccinations done in “near end of stay in barn”At 185 d move to breeding barn
Other management decisionsOther management decisions
AIAOBy site, barn, roomAvoid keeping gilts too long
Continuous flowPRRS viral strain drift may cause problems (Roberts,PRRS viral strain drift may cause problems (Roberts, 2001)Stale gilts
Gilts in estrus in any week grouped into 1 pen (LGilts in estrus in any week grouped into 1 pen (L. Batista, 2001)Seminal plasma applicationp pp
CullingCulling
CriteriaGrowthSoundnessReproduction
EstrousEstrous activityVaginal longitude >25longitude >25 cm
Research neededResearch needed
Much of what we know is anecdotal
