Optimism, wood and China’s recovery in Pig Progress 3

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A rapid recovery for China’s pig industry

It is estimated that China lost more than 50% of its pig herd as a result of African Swine Fever that hit the country in 2018 and 2019. In this article, Richard A. Brown, a director of Gira, discusses what the future looks like for the Chinese pig sector, and how quickly the industry might recover.

Combating Salmonella in pig farms

Salmonella is very resilient and can survive in dust for up to four years, making it a big problem in pig farms. However, work on farms in Germany taking part in Salmonella control programmes has shown that it is possible to eliminate the disease from commercial herds.

‘Sock and environmental swab’ samples are the best method to assess the burden and spread of Salmonella on-farm. Photo: Ceva

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Column: Approaching a problem-solving visit

Pig production advisor, columnist John Gadd, has cabinets full of hundreds of reports from his farm visits. Having helped solve a huge variety of pig farm problems, he gives us 7 pointers on how to approach a problem-solving visit?

“By far the most important action is to ensure the problem is as described in the call-out request,” says columnist John Gadd.

Next generation Dutch pig farmer

Farrow-to-finish farm Jansberg in the Netherlands applies modern technology throughout the facility. Owner Tom Janssen is always looking ahead. A modern gestating area is the latest upgrade to the farm.

The new gestating area is one massive room of 40m x 25m, with space for 220 gestating sows at different stages of pregnancy. Not only is it wide, it is also tall (7m). Photo: Bert Jansen

Improving the outcome of antimicrobial treatment

The use of antibiotics is an integral part of a swine health plan, which includes health monitoring, disease diagnosis, disease prevention and disease treatment measures.

Sustaining antibiotic efficacy in the long term is critical and demands the responsible use of antibiotic therapies. Photo: Shutterstock

Lignocellulose helps to shorten farrowing time

The longer a piglet struggles to pass through the birth canal, the more disadvantaged the piglet will be. Prolonged farrowing also correlates with reduced fertility of sows. By supplementing lignocellulose, an Austrian swine producer shortened the entire birth process per sow by just over 3 minutes.

Fibre is generally considered in the context of avoiding constipation; however, lignocellulose, of which wood is a natural source, can offer benefits. Photo: Agromed/Istock

Feed for Thought: Sustainability

Casey Bradley, president of the Sunswine Group, talks in her column about sustainability with the backdrop of an ever-changing world.

“What are some sustainable opportunities that can also be profitable?” asks Bradley.

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