Sow death loss wasn’t the only number to trend in the wrong direction in 2023. Wean-to-finish mortality increased from 6.87% in 2022 to 7.61% in 2023. Similar to the sow side, Brad Eckberg, business analyst at MetaFarms, Inc., says it comes down to focus and prioritization. Using his experience working as a service technician and analyzing data from over 11 million single-stocked wean-to-finish pigs in 4,000 groups last year, here are a few tips to reduce wean-to-finish mortality.
• Start pigs out right.
Is the barn clean? Having everything clean is absolutely imperative, he says.
“I think that’s easy to get overlooked. Make sure you have a dry environment for that animal with no drafts, too. Pigs are difficult,” Eckberg says. “If something’s not right, if they don’t have the right feed or the water cup is not cleaned out, they’re going to get sick.”
The challenge is you can never make up that performance difference from an average daily gain perspective. Obviously, if a pig is not eating, it’s not growing. If it’s not eating and growing, it’s going the wrong way, he says.
• Take advantage of technology to make decisions.
There is a lot of technology available with smart controllers that have helped the industry make progress, Eckberg points out. This technology ensures proper ventilation, heat and water usage, to name a few.
“You can tell 24 to 48 hours in advance before pigs are going to get sick if the water usage is down, but are we tracking it? And who’s tracking it?” he asks.
Communication is huge. From the grower to the caretaker to the site supervisor to the general manager, communication must be a priority, he says. Then, what standard operating procedures do you have in case something comes up?
• See every pig every day.
It’s simple, but seeing every pig every day is critical, Eckberg says. The caretaker is there every single day, and their main goal is to ensure that pig has proper feed, water, air and treatments.
“It’s not just ‘seeing’ each pig, it’s about taking three to four seconds to be able to see that each and look for any issues,” he says. “Is there a joint issue? Are they favoring a leg? When do I treat a pig? When do I pull a pig?”
It takes time to learn how to be observant. Spending time in the barns and really understanding what the pig needs is important.
“I understand we all have a lot of things going on,” he says. “But if a caretaker’s main job is to take care of that barn, and they’re getting compensated for it, then they need to see those pigs and communicate when things aren’t going well.”
Read the rest of the series here:
The Superpower the Industry Needs on Swine Farms Now
Sow Death Loss Reaches All-Time High in 2023: What Can Producers Do Now?
