27 Pork News & Views Pork News & Views Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Better Pork | December 2024 reduced backfat depth loss in late gestation (see Figure) with no impact on the number of piglets born alive, litter birth weight, or lactation feed intake of the sows, regardless of parity. No feeding-program related differences for sow or piglet BW were observed by weaning on day 20. In addition, Transition sows had lower serum NEFA and BHBA concentrations than Control sows on day one of lactation, indicating less maternal energy mobilization, which aligns with the maintenance of backfat depth during late gestation. This shows that Transition sows were using more energy from the diet versus from their own body to support fetal and mammary growth during the transition period. At birth and into lactation, multiparous sows in the Transition treatment had the heaviest piglets. This was followed by primiparous sows in the Transition treatment, multiparous sows on the Control diet and finally, primiparous sows on the Control diet. By weaning however, there was no difference in piglet weights. Thus, the benefits of the Transition feeding program did not carry through until weaning, but reducing excessive maternal tissue mobilization prior to farrowing will ensure sufficient maternal ability to maintain milk production during the lactation period and subsequent reproductive success. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a blended diet during the transition period. With the results obtained, it can be said that a dynamic feeding program during the transition period can help sows maintain maternal tissue stores, better using energy from the diet, while supporting fetal growth. Kristen Lutz, Nicole Gregory, Lee-Anne Huber Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph Regular Facility Maintenance is Easy – and Profitable!! The success of a swine operation has a number of contributing factors that all require “repairs” from time to time. However, maintenance of the infrastructure is sometimes low on the priority list. This can have a significant negative effect on the operation as a whole. Facility infrastructure is a large capital investment. Regular facility maintenance can contribute to the longevity of the infrastructure and have a positive effect on production. The better the environment provided, the easier the pigs can do their job. The consequences of poor maintenance can be a barn fire that destroys the operation, a damaged flex-auger that wastes feed and labour each day, or a poor indoor environment that sacrifices feed efficiency and increases energy costs. Regular facility maintenance is easy when made part of the regular routine. Let’s look at the basic steps: Inspection and Documentation: Problems need to be identified and documented. Make a checklist of daily items and use it when checking on the animals each day. Check these infrastructure items in conjunction with some other regular task – like washing down a room. Include a review of each pig room, common hallways, mechanical rooms, feed rooms and outside. Prioritize and Schedule Repairs: Repair safety issues immediately. Divide non-safety issues into those that can be repaired with pigs in the room, and those that cannot. Further divide issues into those items that you can repair yourself, and those requiring a specialist (electrician, engineer, contractor). Schedule time for each item, and make appointments with any required specialists. Be realistic with the schedule – taking care of a few small items each day for a week is easier than trying to do them all in one day. Make the Repairs: Repairs can include anything from cleaning, to adjustments, to replacements. Complete all repairs in a safe and workmanlike manner – “band-aid” solutions don’t last and waste time
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