UK - More comfort, less stress can solve sow infertility says Bpex

The challenge to get sows and gilts to cycle and then maintain subsequent pregnancy occurs every year.
But with vets in some parts of the UK reporting increased incidence of reduced appetite resulting in failure to come on heat and, therefore, increased weaning to service intervals, producers are likely to be looking at ways of improving sow fertility.

BPEX AI programme manager Angela Cliff says there is no definite pattern with infertility, so it is vital to provide sows with the most comfortable, stress-free environment possible, so the impact of any extraordinary stressors will be reduced.

"Younger sows, particularly gilts, are more prone to reduced fertility, delayed oestrus, failure to cycle and increases in return rates."

Specialist pig vet Andrian Cox reckons this year's hot and humid summer period has resulted in many sows showing reduced appetites.

"Where that is the case, I have advised feeding twice or even three times a day and providing extra water, combined with keeping room temperature as low as possible by keeping creep feed lights off whenever possible."

But taking steps to review management of sows during lactation to encourage high daily feed intake will help, says Mrs Cliff.

"Feeding a lactation diet with a high energy content, higher than 14MJ DE/kg, and lysine content of 1%, as well as increasing feed frequency to three times a day will help increase feed intake. Also ensure fresh water is accessible at all times for sows."

Management steps such as space allocation and daylight provision will also affect appetite, she adds.

"Ensure a minimum 3.5sq m at mixing, reducing to 3sq m for the weaning to oestrus period and between 14 to 16 hours daylight will help. It may also be beneficial to increase light intensity to between 300 and 500 lux during the weaning-to-oestrus interval."

Good breeding

And when it comes to breeding, she says providing good boar contact both physical and fence-line with an active boar from the day of weaning and then remove 24 hours before oestrus detection. "This should then be followed with oestrus mapping to check oestrus length and adjust timing of AI when appropriate.

"For producers using DIY AI, she advises checking semen quality to ensure on-farm boars are fertile and for those using natural service, consider supplementing with AI."