Utilizing Artificial Insemination in Pork Production Ben Mc
Utilizing Artificial Insemination in Pork Production Ben Mc. Murray Hill Valley Farm Charlevoix, MI michiganhillvalleyfarm. com hillvalleymi@gmail. com
Our Pig Experience/Management • • • Raised Pigs for 3 Years Bought 6 feeders 2015 -AI’d 2 Litter Sizes of 10, 7 in July 2016 Litter Sizes of 5, 10 in June/July 2017 Currently have a 2 nd and 3 rd parity sows bred Will breed two additional sows late winter • • Open farrowed, pasture raised, wintertime hay Rotated on portable electric fencing Human contact for approachable pigs Vaccinate -Farrowsure Gold and Rhini. Shield TX 4 • Conventional feed plus on farm feed sources -local availability • • • Direct Sales-1/4, ½, Whole Shares I butcher for personal/family use. Local non-usda butcher for customers
AI Advantages • Allows producers to raise sow/s and farrow with minimal infrastructure/costs -Advances producer experience and knowledge base • Reduces off farm inputs- no buying feeder pigs or bred gilts -economic considerations with disease transfer reduction • Greater control of full production scale -Oversight from birth to processing • Easy access to a variety of heritage breeds -Easily try different breeds/crossbreed desired characteristics/genetics -Hampshire, Berkshire, Old Spot, Duroc, Yorkshire, Landrace, Chester White, Hereford, Poland, Tamworth • No Boar management/cost • Known timing for farrow date and planning purposes
Basic Pig Reproduction • Identify Pig Cycle Timing- 21 day average -Swollen Vula, Mucus discharge, “Acting different” • “Standing Heat” Lasts ≈36 -48 hrs -Back pressure applied -Pig won’t move • Breed 24 and 36 hours after standing heat is first identified -Ovulation occurs ≈36 hrs. Egg viable 8 -12 hrs. -Sperm viability up to 24 hrs • Observe for re-cycle at 21 days to determine pregnancy status -h. CG urine pregnancy test won’t work
AI Prep • Gilt Selection/Maturity -2 -3 cycles before first gilt breeding -Increase feed a week prior to breeding -Ideal body condition for gilt/sow -All improve litter size • Determine your Supplier -schaffergoldrush. com -many other sources -consider overnight shipping time for source -consider collection day, overnight shipping, predicted sow cycle day • Temperature Controlled Storage -62 -64°F- Inexpensive Wine Chiller, Rotate Semen 2 x day, Viable for up to 7 days from collection time.
AI in Action • Two People Ideal • “Boar Simulator” -Sit on back, rub sides of sow • “Inseminator” -Clean Vulva, Lubricate Breeding Rod, gently insert at slight upward angle. Until resistance met-“locks into cervix” • Gently Squeeze, “Pulse” semen tube -Sow will pull semen in via cervical contractions. DON’T FORCE IT! -5 -10 minute process
Gestation/Farrowing • 114 -115 day average • Control feed for body condition • Crate Free Farrowing -dry location • “Nest making” ≈24 hrs prior to birth - Provide Straw, Hay, etc. Nest size proportional to outside temperature • 5 -14 piglets (8 -9 avg), born every 15 -30 min • Will pass 2 placentas, Sow tail position “up”-more to come. “Down”=done • Directly provide sow with food and water after birthing
Economics • “Breed Specific Semen”-$25/dose -Specific Boars for Genetics/Show $100 -300/dose • Breeding Rods (Foam or Spiral tip)-$0. 40 • Boar Spray-$15. 50 • Lube-$5 • Overnight Shipping-$40 -75 • Wine Chiller- Amazon-$100 -125 • Sow Feed Growth/Carrying Cost-? • Piglet Feed to X weight-? • Number of Piglets farrowed-? • Time/Infrastructure-? • For our management we ballparked a cost of $50 for a 40# feeder pig
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