Coming soon: EuroTier seminar on sow management
‘Sow Management’ is the title of one of 3 Pig Progress seminars taking place at EuroTier in Hanover, Germany, on Wednesday, 13 November. Expert speakers will address the audience between 10am and 11.30am at the Expert Stage Pig, hall 15.
Almost invisibly, the theme of sow management has increased in importance over the last few years, especially in the European Union. Ever since the ban on the use of antibiotic growth promoters in 2006, and the ban on the use of pharmacological levels of zinc oxide in 2021, the question of how to make sure that piglets get through weaning has become more important.
Increasingly, the notion has grown that for a decent answer, it is important to go back to square 1 – i.e., to the very beginning of a piglet’s life, and that is with the sow. Can sows do with better management, feeding or health decisions, so their offspring are better prepared when born?
In addition, it will not have escaped anybody’s attention: sow management is about to change, especially in Germany. Legislation has been put in place to ban confinement in the artificial insemination rooms and Europe appears to be veering towards free farrowing. In other words, it’s time to concentrate more on the animals without whom it will not be possible to do pig farming: the sows.
In this seminar, 3 expert speakers will address the audience…
Investigating the mammary gland
The seminar will be kicked off by Dr Stephan Rosengart, attached to the University of Veterinary Medicine (TiHo) in Hanover, Germany. He will explain the sow management tool of infrared thermography of the mammary gland shortly after birth. He will also discuss the technique and look at large-scale trials, and zoom in on how data gathered can help the industry in terms of animal health and performance. Dry grape extracts for productivity
Next on stage will be Dr Paul Engler on behalf of animal nutrition company Nor-Feed. He will zoom in on sow productivity and how to ensure this using dry grape extracts. On one side, he will explain how the prolificacy and longevity of sows can be supported during gestation and lactation, and on the other, how it can help achieve heavy and healthy piglets.Sow health management
The seminar will be concluded by a presentation of Dr Sangita Jalukar on behalf of animal nutrition company Arm & Hammer. Her presentation will focus on sow health management, as pathogens can transmit vertically from sows to piglets. She will discuss aspects of colostrum, the weaning-to-oestrus interval, as well as the effect of mycotoxins on fertility as well as the farrowing rate.
Registration for the seminar of Wednesday 10am is possible by clicking the link below.
