Follow-up of December 2004 Advanced Reproductive Management Seminar
Mark Storlie, Swine Field Specialist, Northeast Area
Problem
The trend toward leaner, more muscular breeding stock has made management more challenging. Disease, sow longevity and reproductive failure reduce productivity. In January 2004, 43 producers looking to improve the reproductive performance of their breeding herds attended a seminar in Northeast Iowa. Participants were asked to measure their improvement in knowledge and skills by filling out a post seminar survey. Twenty four participants filled out the survey, they have control over 400,150 finishing pigs (approx. 135 FTE) and 25,575 breeding stock (approx. 127 FTE). Over 80% of responses rated the overall program as a fair amount or quite a lot of benefit for their operation. Of those responses which estimated the value of the information for their operation, the average estimated value was $2,935 per operation and four responses indicated a value of over $5,000.
Impact
Forty three surveys were mailed out 11 months after the program to measure the impact and monitor actual adoption or changes in management practices by participants that attended the Jan. 2004 seminar.
Eleven responses were returned. The participants reported the following:
- All responses (100%) used some general information from seminar to make more informed herd management decisions.
- Four operations (40%) have implemented some of Don Levis management factors to improve reproductive performance.
- Four operations (40%) have made a change in management of lactation feed, water, medication or/and pig flow.
- Seven operators (70%) indicated that they have a better understanding of PRRS and other diseases that hinder reproductive performance.
- Three (30%) had used strategies presented by Dr Locke Karriker in their operation to prevent or control PRRS and other diseases
- Three managers (30%) had gained a better understanding of deep uterine AI and looked into applying the technology in their operation.
- Four operations (40%) have explored using Matrix as a management option for the gilt pool.
- Two operations (20%) have made some other change in their operation not listed above.
Producers were then asked to list specific management changes that they applied to their operation because of information learned from the seminar.
- Learned importance of pig flow & isolation of incoming animals
- AI breeding tip and learned about deep uterine AI & matrix
- Lower farrowing room temperatures have increased sow feed intake
- Higher water flow rates in farrowing room
- How to use and working with Matrix
- How to better manage PRRS
- Water & feed management of lactating sows
Producers were asked to estimate the value of the program to them and their operation. The following are actual responses.
$750, $1,500, $1,500, $200, $1,500, $750, $1,500, $1,500 and $20,000
One survey noted: Please continue sponsoring these breeding and reproduction seminars for the few farrow-to-finish producers left in Iowa
May 23, 2005
108 -- Iowa Pork Industry Center
Page last updated:
July 9, 2006
Page maintained by Linda Schultz, lschultz@iastate.edu
