Stockmanship Standards (hogs):

[mikey]

Section: Stockmanship Standards
Body Condition Scoring
Body Condition Scoring 
Score Number Condition Description Shape of body
5 Overfat Hips and backbone heavily covered Bulbous
4 Fat Hips and backbone cannot be felt Tending to bulge
3.5 Good condition Hips and backbone only felt with difficulty Tube shape
3 Normal Hips and backbone only felt with firm palm pressure Tube shaped
2.5 Somewhat thin Hips and backbone felt without palm pressure Tube shaped but flat (slab) sides
2 Thin Hips and backbone noticeable and easily felt Ribs and spine can be felt
1 Emaciated Hips and backbone visible Bone structure apparent (ribs and backbone)
Condition scores from left to right, 1: 2: 3: 4: 5

 

From: Managing Pig Health and the Treatment of Disease 

Back fat meter may be more useful. However, note condition score and back fat correlation differs between different breeds
 

[mikey]

Herd security for a high health farm
Section: Stockmanship Standards
Herd security for a high health farm
Herd security for a high health farm 
Basic Design 
1  The unit must be surrounded by a complete fence 
2  The fence should be 2.4m (8ft) high and 500mm (1.5ft) buried underground to stop pigs and other mammals entering and leaving the unit. 
3  A car park should be sited away from the unit and appropriately marked. 
4  All entrances through the fence must be locked. 
5  All personal items including personal clothing, watches, cigarette lighters etc. must remain outside of the unit itself. 
6  All staff and visitors must wear unit clothing. 
7  Spectacles, cameras and other visitor equipment must be inspected by a member of staff before being allowed onto the unit. Spectacles should be washed. 
8  All meters (electrical, gas and water) must be situated outside the unit fence and placed in a locked area. 
9  The farm manager's office should be situated near the entrance. 
10  A Klaxon switch should be placed by the car park to attract staff attention to visitors. 
11  None of the staff should own or come into contact with other pigs. 
12  No staff should visit animal markets, pig shows or slaughterhouses. 
13  No unauthorised pigs, pig products or pig faecal material must be allowed onto the farm. 
14  Unit rules regarding last pig contact must be strictly adhered too, including signing the visitor's book. 
15  All entry and exit points should be well lit, ideally with proximity sensors. 
16  On many high health units all visitors must shower. 
The Following Entrances/Exits are Permitted 
1  Entrance via a locked door into staff shower facility. 
2  Entrance via a locked door into a visitor shower facility. 
3  Connector to the feed bins which pass through the fence. 
4  Exit via a raised ramp for livestock. 
5  Exit for dead animal disposal through a locked gate. 
6  The straw barn has an entrance from off-farm and an entrance on-farm. Both should be kept locked. Staff are not allowed to leave the farm through the straw barn. 
7  Slurry disposal through underground pipe to slurry store off-farm. 


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[mikey]

Ventilation Maintenance Routines
Section: Stockmanship Standards
Ventilation Maintenance Routines
Ventilation Maintenance Routines 
Daily Check
1 Observation of pigs - too hot, too cold, variable around house.
2 Room smells - Gases.
3 Room too dusty.
4 Condensation.
5 Air feels too damp and heavy (over 75% RH) or too dry (below 50%).
6 Evidence of inadequate spray cooling.
7 Repair leaking water supplies and dripping drinkers.
8 Repair any other leaks, i.e. guttering.
9 Draughts or hot spots evident.
10 Creep lights - too bright, different types - pig lying patterns.
Weekly Check
1 Clean fan blades and shutters.
2 Check alarm systems and fail safes.
3 Clean heater cooling fins and filters.
4 Check gas jets and safety shut-off valves.
5 Check plastic baffles where appropriate.
6 Check feed coverings.
7 Check alarms, even daily for the Malton Code.
8 Check thermostats actually measure pig conditions.
9 Check rodent control.
Quarterly Check
1 Ensure fans operate as expected (with a strobe).
2 Ensure shutters open and close freely
Apply a drop of graphite (not oil or grease) to hinges.
If nylon lubrication is not necessary.
Always follow manufacturer's instructions.
 
3 Clean fan motors and controls.
4 Check insulation panels including creep areas.
5 Check re-circulation air ducts for dust accumulation.
6 Check curtains for rodents in the bottom of the curtain.
7 Check that records are being used to maintain required air quality.
Yearly Check (do all the previous checks at the same time)
1 Clean and repaint chipped areas on fans or shutters to prevent further corrosion.
2 Check air inlets for debris.
3 Check fuel bills for deterioration in air quality.
4 Check Yorkshire boarding effective (gap the same width as the wood is solid). Ensure the separations are even.
5 In winter time, note which roof melts the snow first - indication of adequate insulation.



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[mikey]

Section: Stockmanship Standards
Enhancing Litter Size
Enhancing Litter Size 
Age of Gilt at first mating Gilts should be 210 days
Weight of gilt at first mating 130 - 140 kg
Condition of gilt at first mating 20 mm backfat
Which Oestrus in the gilt Ideally after 2nd oestrus
Nutrition of gilt from 95 kg Ad lib feeding up to first mating. Note floor feeding may not provide all gilts in group with ad lib feeding. Increase protein intake by top dressing with fish meal
Gestation feeding of the pregnant gilt  Limit to a condition score of 3.5 or this will create a second litter size drop
Maximising lactation feed intake 10 kg by day 18 of lactation. Ensure water supply excellent
Weaning to service Maximise to service increase protein i.e. fish meal.Possibly keep the sow in the crate and move the piglets and then feed another lactation feed. Do not feed in morning, move and feed in evening
Post-service feeding Controversial - standard advice 2.5 kg 14% protein 13 MJ 0.7% lysine for the first 14 days. May be more critical during the first 72 hours post-service
Feed quality Mycotoxins can reduce litter size - increase mummified piglets
Vitamin A 1 million units at time of weaning in sows and 5 days prior to service in gilts (15 days after last recorded heat). Retinol Palmitate used.
Lactation length Greater than 17 days
Parity Minimise drop-outs from herd to 10% per parity. Parity 3-5 most productive. Replacement rate needs careful management. Ensure herd parity is correct. 
Genetics Heterosis on maternal side may account for 1 pig per litter or more. Sows with large litters will tend to produce large litters next time. Specific - Meishan effects
Diseases Ensure vaccination against Parvo up to date. Swine influenza reduces litter size. Enterovirus and other viruses may reduce total born, decrease livebirths, increase mummified and stillbirths
Movement/stress Move at service or at 28 days once confirmed pregnant. Implantation occurs at 14 days. Do not move or stress females from 3 to 21 days post-service
Air quality Air temperature 16-18?C. No draughts.
Boar fertility Note swine influenza and heat stress (infection and environment)
Mating management Cross-serving. Two services. Natural service and AI.
Semen Handling Poor semen handling, extending and storage has the potential for reducing fertility and litter size
Light patterns The service area in particular needs to be well lit and have a 16 hours on and 8 hours off on a time clock. 500 Lux required.
Maximise gilt litter To maximise lifetime performance
Farrowing management Reduced stillbirths and accurate stillbirths/pre-weaning mortality


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[mikey]

Section: Stockmanship Standards
Preventing medicine feed residues
These guidelines are not exhaustive and are for guidance purpose only.

Preventing medicine feed residues 
1  All prescription only medicines should be prescribed by your Veterinary Surgeon. 
2  Only use medicine concentrations and combinations as recommended by your Veterinary Surgeon. 
3  Maintain a good record system to keep track of medicated feed usage. Medicated feed usage must be recorded in the medicine book. 
4  Purchase feed from reputable feed agencies who maintain adequate measures to eliminate in-feed medicine cross-contamination. 
5  Clean out or flush - feed bins; conveyors and feeding equipment to reduce medicine carry over into the next load of feed. Augers often leave residual feed in their housing because the screws must have clearance as shown in figure 1, the residual feed is represented by shading.   
  Movement of feed out of a bin occurs directly above the discharge point. The remaining feed then cascades down the slope of the crater that is subsequently formed. Failure to completely empty bins before refilling will result in residual feed retained in the bin. 
Figure 3 demonstrates the typical feed flow in a feed bin with shaded areas illustrating where the feed is most likely to remain and contaminate the next batch.   
  Feed hoppers may also have residual feed if not properly managed. Ensure that feeders are completely empty before refilling. Figure 4 demonstrates the typical feed flow in the feeder with potential areas of residual feed remaining between batches. Note each feeder design will be different.Use bagged feed to assist the clean out process. 
6  Adhere to proper withdrawal periods for all medicines. 
7  Prevent recycling of medicines via manure and urine by adhering to cleaning procedures between groups of pigs. Prevent slaughter pigs from having access to urine and faeces from medicated pigs. 
8  Read and follow any guidelines provided on all medical products

[mikey]

Section: Stockmanship Standards
Factors Affecting Meat Quality
 
nutrition
genetics
climate
slaughterweight
transport
disease
animal handling
lairage conditions
lairage time
pre slaughter handling
slaughter proceedure
post slaughter handling
ageing time
cooking
social environment

[mikey]

Factors Affecting Meat Yield
Factors Affecting Meat Yield 
1 The Breeding Programme
The single most important reason why insufficient quantities of meat are sold per week, per sq. metre of finishing floor relate to insufficient sows/gilts being served some 9 months previously
Correct for known times of reduced farrowing rate or litter size must be accommodated by the breeding of more females
2 Growth Rate and Feed Intake
Any factor which will reduce the feed intake or growth rate will reduce the farm yield. These include overstocking, poor feed troughs, marginal water supplies, poor temperature controls, poor air quality
Single-sex feeding
3 Contact with the Abattoir/Abattoirs Major Customers 
Close liaison with abattoir. Determine exactly what type of meat they require
The UK industry has less than 10 major customers. Determine what they want
Consider the use thirst-making feeds at end of the finishing period
4 The Correct Weight
Supplying pigs that are less variable in the slaughterhouse, this may require twice-weekly shipping
Shipping closer to the maximum permitted weight
The relative cost of up to 5% overweight, as compared with 5% underweight
A higher weight contract, however, ensure that the contract then does not become attractive to other suppliers, a real possibility if we go too heavy in the UK
The use of a weigh scale regularly
Failure to check the weigh scale at least monthly with standardised weights, not your own, variable weight
5 The Wrong Conformation and Lean Tissue Content, P2 Measurement
Require that the genetic make up matches customers demands 
Use of correct meat-type sires
The correct matching of feed to genetic potential
The correct environment to allow fulfilment of genetic potential
Taking advantage of any premium markets, i.e. welfare contract note requirements of piglet processing/housing
6 Slaughtering
A short journey time to slaughterhouse
A stress free as possible journey, note stocking density, quality of roads (including your own drive), journey plan
A known slaughter time
The provision of lairage water available both for drinking and cooling
Prompt killing
The last feed 12 hours before killing
7 Post-Weaning Disease
Effective health maintenance programmes
Attention to suppressing 'nutritional' scours post-weaning
Effective and prompt treatment of compromised pigs to reduce chronic ill thrift pigs, which may end up condemned anyway.
Moving the average dead weight by 1 kg (say 68 to 69 kg) is worth 2300 kg per 100 sows doing 23 pigs per sow per year


What is the P2 Measurement?


P1, P2 and P3 taken level with the head of the last rib.
Rib fat taken 6 cm from the dorsal mid-line between the 3rd and 4th last rib. 



The P1 measurement is taken 4.5 cm from midline

The P3 measurement is taken 8.0 cm from midline

The P2 measurement is taken 6.5 cm from midline The Lean meat percentage and EU grades

S    60% or more
E    55 - 59%
U    50 - 54%
R    45 - 49%
O    40 - 44%
P    Less than 40% 




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[mikey]

Section: Stockmanship Standards
Loss of maternal antibody
Loss of maternal antibody
Week when most
antibody is lost Agent
Week 1 E. coli 
Week 2 Transmissible Gastro-enteritis Virus - TGE
Week 3 Haemophilus parasuis - HPS (Glässers disease)
Week 4 Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome - PRRS, Pasteurella multocida and Bordetella bronchiseptica (Progressive Atrophic Rhinitis - PAR)
Week 6 - 9 Porcine Respiratory Coronavirus - PRCV
Swine Influenza - SIV
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Aujeszky's Disease
Enterovirus - SMEDI
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Enzootic Pneumonia - EP)
Week 6 - 10 Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) (but protection may not be present after 3 weeks)
Week 12 Erysipelas
Week 24 Porcine Parvovirus - PPV 

Notes:
If the piglet did not receive colostrum (due to weakness, mastitis, agalactia, fostering, chilling etc.) then no antibody protection will be present.
In the pig no antibodies cross the placenta.
The loss of antibodies is variable i.e. PRRS loss starts at 14-20 days.

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[mikey]

Tail Biting and Other Vices - Discomfort Syndromes
Section: Stockmanship Standards
Tail Biting and Other Vices
A Check List of Possible Causes

Discomfort Syndromes 
  Area Of Concern Comment
1 Check stocking density   
2 Check tail length, in particular variability   
3 Check feed particle size (target > 500 ?m) which can lead to gastric ulcers and stress   
4 Ensure feed mycotoxins are kept to a minimum   
5 Check salt (NaCl) concentration in feed. If a problem increase to 0.9%. Check water supplies   
6 Check for evidence of a draught at pig heights (draught air speed > 50 feet/ min or 0.2 m/sec)   
7 Check air quality
(target - NH3 < 20 ppm, H2S < 10 ppm and CO2 < 3000 ppm)   
8 Check humidity (target between 50 and 60%)   
9 Check light intensity and hours on and off.   
10 Check water supplies   
11 Check feeder space availability   
12 Check 24 hour temperature fluctuations   

 

[mikey]

Using Needles
Section: Stockmanship Standards
Using Needles
Using Needles 
Needle Use 
1  Always use a sharp new disposable needle each day. 
2  When injecting a group of healthy pigs do not use the same needle for more than 10 - 12 pigs (one litter).
Note: If Eperythrozoonosis is a problem needles should not be shared, discuss this with your vet. 
3  Never use a blunt needle 
4  Needles must not go from a sick pig to a healthy pig. 
5  Only use a clean needle to draw out of a vaccine bottle. 
6  Dispose of used needles (and blades) in a proper Sharps bin. 
7  Return full Sharps bin to the veterinarian for safe disposal. 
8  Do not share needles with another stockperson. 
Needle Length and Size 
?  Intramuscular  Liveweight kg  Subcutaneous injections 
1  Piglet  5/8"  21g  1 - 7  Piglet  5/8  21g 
2  Weaner  1"  19g  7 - 25  Weaner  5/8"  21g 
3  Grower  1"  19g  25 - 60  Grower  1/2"  19g 
4  Finisher  1"  16g  60 - 100  Finisher  1/2"  19g 
5  Adult  1.5"  16g  ?  Adult  1"  19g 
Accidental Self Injection 
1  Inform manager (or assistant manager) immediately. 
2  Obtain relevant data sheet and/or COSHH sheet 
3  Telephone local medical centre for advice. 
4  Be taken to the local medical centre with data sheet and name and telephone of the farm veterinarian. Do not drive yourself. 


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[mikey]

Factors that can Result in a Reduction in Weaning to Service Intervals
Lactation Feeding Aim to reduce weight loss during lactation.
Aim to have sow eating 10 kg by day 18 of a 18% Protein, 1% lysine, 14 MJ DE diet. Average consumption is required to be over 6.5 kg per day. Additional Chromium has been recently reported to help. Biotin to be at 225 ?g/kg.
Weaning to Breeding Feeding Continue with lactation feed.
Feed 4 kg to ad lib a day to point of service.
Feed once a day.
Ensure water supply more than adequate, particularly after breeding to help prevent cystitis problems.
Total feed intake can be enhanced by moving the piglets first and leaving the sow for 12 hours but continuing to feed her the same levels.
Day of Service to 3 days Post-service Feed dry sow ration at 1.5 to 2 kg a day.
Sow may not eat much anyway while in oestrus.
Gilts must not be overfed in the immediate period post-breeding as this can affect litter size. Sows are less vulnerable.
3 days Post-service to Farrow  Follow dry sow feeding routines.
First 3 - 21 days of gestation increasing feed may help placental growth in sows.
Overfeeding in gestation will affect subsequent lactation feed intake.
Boar Exposure Limited exposure only for the first 2 days post-weaning.
Then minimum of 20 minutes a day from day 3 to service. Actual boar contact needed.
Ideally heat check/stimulate twice or even three times daily.
Remove boar from the sow breeding area, by 10 metres - sight, sound, smell - for one hour before breeding.
Service Area Environment
Water Adult sows drink 8 to 12 litres per day. If water is supplied through a nipple drinker aim to provide 1.5 to 2 litres per minute. If water is supplied via a front water trough, ensure the water is fresh and clean and refill the trough at least 3 times a day, perhaps providing 5 replenishments in the summer months.
Air 16 hours of daylight and 8 hours of dark is ideal. The light intensity required is 500 lux, about the light intensity in your kitchen. Many breeding areas are poorly lit. The breeding area must be draught-free and the sows kept at between 16 and 22?C. If the temperature exceeds 22?C cooling is required.
Floor The floor in the breeding area must provide good footing and ensure neither the boar nor the sow slips on the floor. The flooring in the sow housing must be non abrasive. In many farms metal and tops of bolts can come into contact with the sow and can cause abrasions. Any slatted flooring should be pencil-edged. The sows should be provided with 3 m2 (30 sq. ft). Avoid mixing gilts and 1st parity sows with older sows in loose housed accommodation.
Feed All feed should be fresh and must not contain mycotoxins. Note this means feed barrows should be protected from the rain and feed bins regularly cleaned. Home mixers should regularly check that their raw materials supply the correct mix of ingredients. Feed access particularly between the weaning and time of breeding must be optimised. This may be particularly important for gilts and 1st parity sows. Gilts may benefit for a high energy, low protein ration to help put on backfat without a large frame.
Stock Ensure that the sow/gilt and boars are of the correct size.
Any Signs of Lameness Serve by artificial insemination only.
Seasonal Effects on Farrowing Rate
While the domestication of the pig has reduced seasonal effects more dramatically than in sheep (for example), it is difficult to completely negate nature's demands. From the pigs point of view it is unwise to become pregnant in the autumn as the litter would be born in the middle of winter and would likely die. The effects of seasonality are less noticeable in sows reared inside, but for outdoor production systems, the autumn abortion / summer infertility syndrome is a serious problem.
It is imperative that additional gilts are introduced 10 weeks before the event of sub-fertility served to cover these periods of reduced productivity. Increase herd size by the size of the sub-fertility. It is imperative to maintain kg meat output.
Do not cull sows until end of service batch, or ideally at point of pregnancy checking. It is essential to breed sufficient to fill the farrowing area and maximise your pig flow.

[mikey]

Nursing Patterns
Nursing Patterns 
What attracts new-born piglets?
1 Vocalisation of sows.
2 Dark areas.
3 Afterbirth and birth fluids.
4 Movement along hair patterns.
Suckling after birth.
1 Piglets can contact the teats as quickly as 3 minutes, but average 15 minutes to contact the udder and 30 minutes to contact the teat.
2 Milk is continuously available for several hours . There is little aggression as pigs sample teats.
3 Cyclic milk ejection, approximately hourly, results in more aggression.
4 Piglets consume over 250ml of colostrum in the first 24 hours. This can be more than 25% of their own bodyweight.
Cyclic nursing and suckling (Approximately Once Every Hour)
  Sows Piglets
  Slow grunting Assemble at udder
  Increased grunt rate Nosing and teat location
  Rapid increase in grunt rate Slow sucking
  Milk flow (15 sec) Rapid sucking
  Grunting declines Slow sucking or nosing
  Sleep or change position Fall asleep
Consequences of cyclic suckling
1 Fan noise may interfere with nursing cycles
2 Piglets which miss a nursing do not eat until next bout
3 Nursing within a room is synchronised
4 Nursing can be stimulated by sound or massage
5 Post-suckling massage is related to milk yield and gut hormones
Teat order
1 Established within 3 days
2 Consistence often over 90%
3 Less stable in large litters
4 About 10% of piglets use more than one teat
5 Multiple teats more common in small litters
6 Unused teats regress
7 When sow turns over, so does the piglet teat order, it is teat specific
Consequences of a teat order
1 Stable teat orders lead to more uniform growth
2 Relative weight gain within litters depends on competition for teat
3 Evening out litters by weights (first 3 days) or selective teeth clipping reduced problem piglets
4 Unused teats produce less milk in subsequent lactation
5 Mixing after day 9 is difficult to re-make the teat order (1-2 days)
When a pig is fostered after 48 hours total litter performance is reduced.
Fostering is about two events:
Foster after day three if you want more even litters (total litter size will be reduced)
Do not foster after day three if you want to maximise total litter weight (litter may be variable

[mikey]

Fostering Pigs Forward
Fostering Pigs Forward 
Preparation
1 Ideally foster pigs within 6 - 8 hours of birth to a similarly farrowed sow.
2 If fostered within this time period piglets will obtain colostrum from the foster sow.
3 Do not foster new-born piglets for at least 6 -- 8 hours after birth when the foster sow has been farrowed 12 hours or more (this ensures maximum colostrum intake).
4 Even all litters by size and numbers where possible.
Making a New Litter
1 Select the new-born surplus piglets, say 10. Always select the biggest and strongest.
2 Make sure each piglet has suckled for 6 hours and taken in maximum colostrum.
3 Identify a sow (second litter ideal) suckling 10 piglets 4 - 5 days old.
4 Mix and fasten the new-born and 5 day old piglets together in the creep for at least 1/2 hour.
5 Remove the 5 day old pigs to a similar sow suckling around 10 day old piglets and repeat the process.
6 Remove the 10 day old piglets to a similar sow suckling 16 day old piglets and wean the latter.
7 The fostering can be done in two stages 5 - 8 days and 12 - 16 days but there is a greater rejection of the piglets by the sow.

[mikey]

Section: Stockmanship Standards
Gilt and Boar Introduction
The isolation quarters are run on a strict all-in/all-out basis.

Gilt and Boar Introduction 
On arrival at 80+ Kg
First Two Weeks
1 Ensure animals are separate from native pigs for two weeks.
2 Ideally separate by 50 meters.
3 Attempt to acclimatise the animals to the new environment. Initially attempt to simulate the original environment. Make changes gradually.
4 Pay particular attention to:
The cooling systems and water supply .
If possible have bagged feed from original farm or make attempts to match original feed. Ideally feed a lactation or grower diet.
If pigs come from a straw based system, utilise straw or solid flooring before introducing to slatted systems.
 
5 The animals may require antimicrobial or additional vaccine therapy following introduction, please discuss with your vet.
6 It is essential to have separate needles, syringes and medicines for each batch of gilts.
2 to 4 Weeks Post Introduction
1 Introduce cull adult or grow/finish stock to the new arrivals.
2 With very "clean" breeding stock, it may be necessary to introduce adults first for two weeks, then remove these and replace with growers.
3 Change over the environment to match local conditions.
4 It may be necessary to medicate the pigs depending on how they respond to the new diseases.
4 to 8 Weeks Post Introduction
1 Remove grow/finish animals to allow the new pigs time to recover from any illness. 
2 Consider exposing gilts to a boar for 20 minutes a day to start stimulation.
Introduce into the herd
Place onto Lactator feed ad-lib for 2 weeks prior to first service to flush the gilt.
Thoroughly clean and disinfect isolation quarters 
Record all signs of illness over the 8 week period 

CONTROL VIRAL INFECTIONS CONSIDER A MOVE TO 30KG WEANER GILTS.

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[mikey]

Stotfold Lactation Feed Scale
Stotfold Lactation Feed Scale
First 10 days
(All sows/Gilts)   Sow Identification
Day Kg Fed   Total Fed:
1 Kg 2.5   Date Farrowed (Day 1)
2 Kg 3.0   
3 Kg 3.5 Notes:
4 Kg 4.0   
5 Kg 4.5   
6 Kg 5.0   
7 Kg 5.5   
8 Kg 6.0   
9 Kg 6.5   
10 Kg 7.0   
Gilt: < 10 piglets
Sow: < 9 piglets Gilt: 10 piglets
Sow: 9 piglets Gilt:   11 piglets
Sow: 10 piglets Gilt:   12 piglets
Sow: 11 piglets Gilt:   13 piglets
Sow: 12 piglets
Day Kg Fed Day Kg Fed Day Kg Fed Day Kg Fed Day Kg Fed
11 7.0   11 7.5   11 7.5   11 7.5   11 7.5   
12 7.0   12 7.5   12 8.0   12 8.0   12 8.0   
13 7.5   13 8.0   13 8.5   13 8.5   13 8.5   
14 7.5   14 8.0   14 8.5   14 9.0   14 9.0   
15 8.0   15 8.5   15 9.0   15 9.5   15 9.5   
16 8.0   16 8.5   16 9.0   16 9.5   16 10.0   
17 8.5   17 9.0   17 9.5   17 10.0   17 10.5   
18 8.5   18 9.0   18 9.5   18 10.0   18 10.5   
19 9.0   19 9.5   19 10.0   19 10.5   19 11.0   
20 9.0   20 9.5   20 10.0   20 10.5   20 11.0   
21 9.5   21 10.0   21 10.5   21 11.0   21 11.5   
22 9.5   22 10.0   22 10.5   22 11.0   22 11.5   
23 9.5   23 10.0   23 10.5   23 11.0   23 11.5   
24 9.5   24 10.0   24 10.5   24 11.0   24 11.5   
25 9.5   25 10.0   25 10.5   25 11.0   25 11.5   
26 9.5   26 10.0   26 10.5   26 11.0   26 11.5   
27 9.5   27 10.0   27 10.5   27 11.0   27 11.5   

Notes on how to use the feed scale
Assess piglet and sow condition on Day 10.

Select appropriate scale consistent with piglet number and rearing ability of sow (e.g. a highly productive sow with 10 piglets may require the feed scale for a sow with 11 piglets).

Where deviations from the scale are appropriate (either up or down) record the amounts consumed in the 'Fed' column.

Cross off the days in the 'Day' column as lactation progresses - allowing relief stock persons to refer to and maintain correct feed intake levels.

Record alterations to piglet numbers and change to the appropriate scale.

Feed lactating animals at least twice per day.

Two-diet feeding system is recommended; the lactating sow requiring higher energy and lysine levels than the pregnant sow.

Ensure an adequate water supply. Sow drinkers should flow at least 1.5 litres per minute. Piglet drinkers at 300 mls per minute.

Ensure correct room temperature. As sow feed intake increases, room temperature should reduce from 20?C to 16?C. Maintain at 16?C for the last 10 days of lactation.

When day time temperatures are high, feed one third of the daily requirement am & two thirds pm.