Articles - Management

A much higher percentage of piglets prefer milk supplement over creep feed. Here are the results of the latest studies on this subject.

Why is it important to take sow temperatures after farrowing? How does feed intake affect litter size?

Here's how to make a modular gate that is adjustable in length and can easily be installed in all the aisles of the sow farm.

The four most common mistakes on pig farms, illustrated with real examples.

Preventing the entry and spread of diseases should be an objective on any swine farm, so adequately designing biosecurity aspects is key. In this article, we continue to discuss biosecurity measures with two experts: Lara Ruiz and José Casanovas.

If we combine air with some cool water it is possible to lower the ambient temperature by a few degrees.

We went to visit an Italian farm where the sows are free housed in the farrowing room. We asked some questions to better understand the system.

What factors can help with managing piglets without in-feed antibiotics and ZnO?

How to improve the characteristics of a chain as environmental enrichment. The secret is pigs being able to play together.

How should you decide if your current routines on colostrum are working? How much intake is enough?

How is the growing demand for greater animal welfare on farms articulated?

New regulations allow farmers to administer general anaesthesia to piglets via inhalation of isoflurane. This is how the German swine industry is adapting so far.

Changes at weaning can have significant detrimental impacts on the piglet's gastrointestinal tract structure and function. Sexual dimorphism, weaning weight, and weaning age play a role.

Key biosecurity messages to move dead pigs out of the clean area of the farm to the deadstock management area prior to their treatment: external deadstock container, incinerator or hydrolysis container.

Pros and cons of rendering carcass disposal systems, alkaline hydrolysis, anaerobic digestion, gasification, and homogenization.

Pros and cons of the most used carcass disposal systems: burial, composting, incineration, and rendering. Impacts on environment and biosecurity.

A high dose of oxytocin given in the 16 h following the end of farrowing prolongs the colostral phase which can improve the quality of milk in early lactation.

We continue our series of articles in which swine reproduction and artificial insemination expert Javier Gil shares key points about proper management to improve fertility and prolificacy. This article addresses the criteria to establish correct insemination methods.

In the fourth article of our series, we review the opinions from our group of global swine health experts on the potential relationship, if any, between the rise in nursery mortality that some countries have observed over the last few years and antibiotic reduction strategies.

The movement of live animals out of the farm can compromise farm biosecurity. A meticulously designed transfer facility and safe load out protocols are key to prevent the risk of cross contamination.

The design of this DIY chute allows sows' claws to be trimmed quickly and comfortably.

Put more piglets on than teats? When to start fostering? Am I cross fostering piglets too many times?

In this series of articles about internal biosecurity we will review McRebel and other strategies that we perform to control the movement of pathogens within the farm as we complete our daily work

For several years now, post-cervical insemination has become common on most pig farms. In this article we review with Javier Gil, a specialist in swine reproduction and artificial insemination, what to keep in mind in order to do this technique correctly.