Weaning capacity

I've been writing quite a bit recently on Sow Productive Life (SPL) and that I am disturbed at pig farmers' apparent complacency about how short it is these days – and what to do about extending it.
04 Nov 2008 - 8 comment(s) - Read more »

Replacing plasma - how?

Following my last blog on the use of immunoglobulins from hyper-immunised eggs as a means of controlling diarrheas and replacing animal plasma, I have received many emails asking me how animal plasma works and on what grounds egg immunologlobulins can replace it. I think we should take time this week to discuss this issue!
28 Oct 2008 - 8 comment(s) - Read more »

Swine dysentery eradication – some practical considerations

In recent months we have seen an increase in swine dysentery cases in the UK and frequent discussions about what should we do. Should we eradicate or slaughter out?
20 Oct 2008 - 1 comment(s) - Read more »

International recognition

"I was afraid I’d be sitting here all alone, nothing to do, nobody to talk to," the German representative of GlobalGap told me, about a month ago, at an international EuroTier press meeting in the German city of Göttingen.
18 Oct 2008 - 1 comment(s) - Read more »

Modern gilt feeding methods – does it pay?

I have just completed analysing the farm records from some courageous breeders who bit the bullet several years ago and adopted the advice on upgrading their gilt feeding which appeared around 2004.
13 Oct 2008 - 6 comment(s) - Read more »

Eggs for healthy piglets

In long past times, the most effective cure for piglet scours was feeding them with eggs from hens raised in the same farm. Since then, things have changed but this knowledge has not been lost. I am talking here about hyper-immunised egg powder.
07 Oct 2008 - 4 comment(s) - Read more »

Antimicrobial use, resistance and misconceptions

Following the recent release of the UK's usage of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine, there was the usual storm from the organic lobby. Are they right, are we sitting on a time bomb waiting to go off?
29 Sep 2008 - 1 comment(s) - Read more »

I trail a coat. Is the gilt really a 'herd contaminant'?

Parity segregation (where the replacement female up to the second lactation is kept physically separate from the rest of the herd) seems to be successful. Parity segregation promises fewer of certain diseases and a much longer sow productive life (SPL).
23 Sep 2008 - 4 comment(s) - Read more »

Dietary electrolyte balance (dEB)

When we formulate diets for pigs, little attention is paid usually on minerals, apart from meeting certain specifications and only for just a few of them. Yet, minerals are extremely important especially because the balance among them affects metabolism in a very profound way. Let's see how this little known nutritional topic can influence animal performance.
16 Sep 2008 - 5 comment(s) - Read more »

Tidying up some loose ends

Over the last few month's, I was asked a number of questions such as 'how effective PCV2 vaccines would be when there is a mixed respiratory infection with over 30% mortality', and also 'how am I meant to give all these vaccines to my growing pigs?' Some answers are now emerging.
09 Sep 2008 - 10 comment(s) - Read more »