2025 | SPRING EDITION CUTTING-EDGE VENTILATION TECHNOLOGY BIOSECURITY THROUGH INCINERATION AI HELPS IMPROVE RETENTION 17 24 26 Success SET FOR IMPROVING SOW LONGEVITY AND WEANER DEVELOPMENT
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Spring 2025 www.pigchamp.com 3 Published By: Farms.com Media & Publishing & PigCHAMP, Inc. 1531 Airport Road, Suite 101 Ames, Iowa 50010 866-774-4242 Canadian Office: 90 Woodlawn Road West Guelph, ON N1H 1B2 888-248-4893 x293 Publisher & Sales Manager Andrew Bawden andrew.bawden@farms.com PigCHAMP Product & Sales Manager Jayne Jackson jayne.jackson@pigchamp.com Editor Andrew Joseph andrew.joseph@farms.com Design & Production Tanya Myers Greg Marlow Farms.com Marketing & Operations Denise Faguy denise.faguy@farms.com Benchmark Resources Online These articles, along with articles from past Benchmark magazines and additional expert information, can be found on the PigCHAMP website: Pigchamp.com/news/benchmark-magazine If you have any additional information or suggestions for future articles please contact us at swinenews@farms.com. We will post these articles on the Farms.com swine news pages, or include them in future issues of Benchmark. To receive weekly swine newsletters (free), email subscriptions@farms.com with the title Swine. Circulation info@pigchamp.com 866-774-4242 All rights reserved. Editorial materials are copyrighted. Permission to reprint may be granted upon request. Cover: modify260 – stock.adobe.com, Kim Phuong Art – stock.adobe.com PigCHAMP is proud to partner with these swine industry leaders. Our connectivity with these partners provides you with better, faster, and simpler information tools. While there have been many hurdles to overcome this past year, we know that those who have remained steadfast in the industry are Set for Success. As always, our goal with Benchmark magazine is to provide those of you who work on swine farms every day with information you need to succeed—to help you tackle issues that have an impact on your business. We believe that data, particularly PigCHAMP benchmarking data, can assist in making better strategic business decisions for your swine operation. In this magazine, we are fortunate to have leading university researchers from Iowa State, Kansas State, and North Carolina, as well as leading industry organizations, share their research data with our readers on important and sometimes complex issues to provide insights for practical improvements on your farm. The 2025 issue of Benchmark magazine features articles on acidifiers for nursery pigs and the essential nutrient choline, both of which promote sow efficiency, as well as how many pigs a sow should optimally nurse. We also look at enhancing piglet nutrient access and practical improvements in sow robustness, as well as the missing link between feed outages and feed conversion ratio. As always, we here at PigCHAMP are here to help you keep track of the information and analyze the data to see what is the best way to set you up for success! SPRING 2025 Benchmark Welcome Graham Dyer, President & CEO
4 www.pigchamp.com Spring 2025 In US breeding herds, data collection is widespread; yet too often, this information remains fragmented across software systems. While producers rely on reports for sow records, task management, and performance summaries, many overlook a critical opportunity: harnessing advanced analytics to maximize reproductive efficiency, profitability, and sow longevity. The solution is strategic data analysis. By pinpointing key performance drivers, producers and veterinarians can refine management practices to shorten wean-to-estrus intervals, boost breeding success, and improve farrowing rates—directly translating to herd productivity and lifetime performance. The objective of this study was to assess individual sow factors associated with sow efficiency, defined as a wean-to-estrus interval (days), subsequent farrowing success, and subsequent total born. Methods Experimental data was sourced from six lactation trials conducted between 2021 and 2022 on a commercial sow farm. To ensure consistency and limit variability in the study, animals were housed in the same lactation rooms, had the same genetics, and had no Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV) or Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDV) health challenges. The final dataset had 4,300 observations, including productivity performance, daily lactation feed intake, sow and litter weights, caliper measurements, and subsequent performance. Generalized linear regression models were built WITH SOW EFFICIENCY Factors Associated Linking lactation feeding patterns, litter performance, and sow characteristics to sow efficiency metrics. Researchers: Elly Kirwa Rafael da Rosa Ulgium, Ana Paula Mellagi, and Gustavo Silva of VDPAM, Iowa State University; and Beau Peterson, Caleb Grohmann, and Matt Frizzo of Carthage Innovative Swine Solutions, LLC Risk factors associated with wean-to-estrus interval (WEI). The plot presents the effects of parity, lactation average daily feed intake (ADFI) for the first seven days, piglets after cross-fostering, and lactation ADFI intake pattern on wean-to-estrus interval (in days). The bars represent the mean WEI for each category, with error bars indicating the 95% upper confidence intervals. The letters above the bars indicate significant differences among groups. Categories that share at least one letter are not significantly different from each other, whereas those with distinct letters are statistically different (P <0.05). Figure 1 Risk Factors Associated with Wean-to-Estrus Interval
pic.com Per m . Your success isn’t by chance. Neither is our innovation. It takes groundbreaking advancements and continuously improving genetics to produce measurable on-farm results. Our steps forward amplify your success now and in the future. One Step Ahead Redefining the boundaries of possible.
6 www.pigchamp.com Spring 2025 using the R program to identify factors with each outcome. A total of 23 predictors were evaluated in each model, and trial ID was included as a random effect to account for the potential variations across different trials. The model-building process involved a manual stepwise forward selection approach, where interactions and confounders were tested based on biological relevance. Predictors with p-values below 0.05 were retained in the final model to ensure statistical significance. Pairwise comparison was tested using t-tests with Tukey-Kramer adjustment, considering p-values <0.05 as statistically significant. Results Risk factors associated with wean-to-estrus interval (WEI) included parity (P <0.001), piglets after cross-fostering (P = 0.01), ADFI in the first three days of lactation (P = 0.01), and lactation ADFI (P = 0.019), with the farrowing season as a confounder (P = 0.03), as shown in Figure 1. Sows with more than 15 piglets after cross-fostering had a 1.3-day increase in WEI (P = 0.01). Lactation ADFI <10 lbs. in the first three days was associated with a one-day increase in WEI (P <0.001). For subsequent farrowing, risk factors included litter size (P = 0.02), stillborn rate (P = 0.01), ADFI during the first week of lactation (P = 0.01), and body weight change (P = 0.01), as shown in Figure 2. Sows with at least one stillborn showed a 7% decrease in subsequent farrowing (P = 0.01), while those with more than 15 piglets after cross-fostering had a 12% decrease in farrowing rate (P = 0.02). Risk factors associated with subsequent total born included parity (P <0.0001), previous litter size (P = 0.01), piglet birthweight (P = 0.01), caliper change (P = 0.04), percentage of stillborn (P = 0.01), and interaction of sow body weight change and litter wean weight (P = 0.002), as shown in Figure 3. Sows that previously farrowed more than 14 piglets had, on average, one additional piglet in the subsequent litter (P = 0.01), whereas those with lower birth weights produced two more piglets. More than 5% of the stillborn (of the total born) were associated with a decrease of two pigs in subsequent farrowing (P = 0.01). Sows that gained at least one unit of caliper during lactation had two more piglets in subsequent litters vs. those that lost one unit of caliper. Conclusion This study identified relevant predictors of sow efficiency and performance. Overall, these predictors provide actionable insights for optimizing sow management, enabling targeted nutritional interventions and reproductive strategies to improve longevity, farrowing rates, and overall herd productivity. Risk factors associated with subsequent farrowing rate. The plot presents the effects of stillborn, lactation average daily feed intake (ADFI) the first seven days, piglets after cross-fostering, and body weight change on the subsequent farrowing rate. The bars represent the mean subsequent farrowing rate for each category, with error bars indicating the 95% upper confidence intervals. The letters above the bars indicate significant differences among groups. Categories that share at least one letter are not significantly different from each other, whereas those with distinct letters are statistically different (P <0.05). Figure 2 Risk Factors Associated with Subsequent Farrowing Rate
Spring 2025 www.pigchamp.com 7 Risk factors associated with subsequent performance. The plot presents the effects of parity, previous litter size, piglet birth weight, percentage of stillborn, and sow caliper change on subsequent litter (total born). The bars represent the mean total piglets born in subsequent farrowing for each category, with error bars indicating the 95% upper confidence intervals. The letters above the bars indicate significant differences among groups. Categories that share at least one letter are not significantly different from each other, whereas those with distinct letters are statistically different (P <0.05). Figure 3 Risk Factors Associated with Subsequent Performance (Total Born) Table 1. Risk factors associated with wean-to-estrus interval (WEI, days), percentage of sows bred within seven days post- weaning, and subsequent farrowing rate (%). Outcome Wean–to-Estrus Interval (WEI) days Subsequent Farrowing (farrowing rate) Subsequent Performance (total born) Parity Piglets after cross-fostering ADFI first 3 days of lactation Lactation ADFI pattern Farrowing season Stillborn rate Piglets after cross-fostering ADFI first 7 days of lactation Sow body weight change Parity Previous litter size Piglet birth weight Sow caliper change Percentage of stillborn Sow body weight change * litter wean weight P <0.001 P = 0.010 P = 0.010 P = 0.019 P = 0.035 P = 0.013 P = 0.020 P = 0.011 P = 0.010 P <0.0001 P = 0.010 P = 0.016 P = 0.041 P = 0.017 P = 0.002 Risk factor P-value Actionable Insights To optimize efficiency, prioritize early lactation feed intake, ensuring sows hit at least 10 lbs./day in the first three to seven days. Monitor cross-fostering practices to avoid overloading sows, as larger litters compromise both WEI and farrowing success. Furthermore, the tracking of caliper changes during lactation to identify sows needing targeted nutritional support and reducing stillbirth risks is essential, going forward. Dr. Elly Kirwa Dr. Elly Kirwa is a PhD student at Iowa State University, joining the ISU Field Epidemiology team in 2023. His current research focuses on leveraging data-driven approaches to enhance swine production, specifically through the development of prediction algorithms for sow efficiency and gilt retention.
8 www.pigchamp.com Spring 2025 Osteochondrosis is a disease that is a major cause of lameness in pigs. Susceptibility to osteochondrosis is partially influenced by genetics, which is why Topigs Norsvin addresses susceptibility to osteochondrosis through the breeding program by scoring osteochondrosis lesions from the high-definition CT (computed tomography) image data. Scores are assigned by trained technicians using a subjective, 5-point scoring system. Research is currently underway to update this process by replacing visual appraisal and scoring with an automated detection, and scoring pipeline with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) models. Genetic Selection for Reduced Susceptibility to Osteochondrosis Topigs Norsvin has selected against susceptibility to osteochondrosis since 2012. Currently, osteochondrosis is scored by trained technicians based on visual observation of CT images. Osteochondrosis is scored for the lateral and medial condyle of both the elbow and knee joints, for a total of eight separate scores. Assigning scores consists of the following steps: 1. Identifying the joint or condyle of interest (from a 3D image); 2. Assessing the severity of the lesion, and 3. Recording a score. Scores are assigned at each individual location using a subjective, 5-point scoring system, then summed across all eight regions to calculate a combined score, ranging from 0 to 32. An individual’s genetic merit for susceptibility to osteochondrosis is estimated based on this combined score. Selection for a lower combined score has proven to be effective, resulting in substantial genetic and phenotypic improvement in this trait. For example, phenotypic trends reveal a 70% reduction in overall osteochondrosis score in the Norsvin Landrace line throughout the last decade (Figure 1). The next steps include improving the phenotyping pipeline by replacing the visual appraisal of osteochondrosis lesions with automated detection and scoring. Segmentation AI plays a significant role in medical image analysis, such as the identification and classification of pixels into different classes. This process, referred to as segmentation, is the same method that Topigs Norsvin uses to classify various tissue types from CT image data. Small Lesions in a Big Pig One of the main challenges of developing artifical intelligence models for osteochondrosis detection is the size of the lesion relative to the full-body image. For instance, a full-body 3D CT image consists of about 0.3 billion pixels, whereas the size of a large osteochondrosis lesion is only about 300 pixels. In general, the smaller the region of interest within an image, the more difficult it is to detect. The best way to overcome this challenge is to focus on specific regions within the pig where osteochondrosis is most likely to occur. OSTEOCHONDROSIS FROM CT IMAGES Towards Automated Detection of A look at the susceptibility of osteochondrosis in swine through genetics. Øyvind Nordbø, PhD, Researcher, Topigs Norsvin Figure 1 Ten-year phenotypic trend for combined osteochondrosis score in the Norsvin Landrace line. Birth-Date Osteochondrosis Score
Spring 2025 www.pigchamp.com 9 The Anatomic Atlas At Topigs Norsvin, the CT scanning process consists of collecting whole-body, 3D images for each pig. CT images are collected at market weight (approximately 286 lbs.) for all purebred boars at the Delta Canada and Delta Norway boar off-testing stations. The first step in this process is sedation—sedating the pig enables technicians to load and position boars on the CT table as safely as possible. During the scanning process, thousands of images are captured per individual. These images contain pixels. While a given pixel may contain information on multiple tissue types, these tissues can be distinguished using AI models. This same process was used to develop what we refer to as an AI-based anatomical “atlas.” This provides an overview of the positioning and size of each anatomical structure within a CT image. Using this atlas, the tissue of any CT image can be segmented into 29 different classes, including muscle, organ, and bone tissue (Figure 2). Within the bone tissue, more specific algorithms are systematically used to identify joints connecting bones and any detectable instances of osteochondrosis lesions within these joints. Joint Identification Each major leg bone has two extreme points, which are located at the end of the bone. The center of a joint is identified based on the position of these extreme points of two neighboring bones. Bounding boxes (Figure 3) are then constructed around the center point of each joint to define the region of interest for the identification of osteochondrosis lesions. For example, bounding boxes improve the lesion-to-background ratio from approximately 1:1,000,000 to 1:10,000, reducing the computational complexity of segmentation in this region. Looking at the Automated Segmentation of Osteochondrosis Lesions In 2015, groundbreaking AI models were introduced for the segmentation of medical images (RonnerAutomated segmentation of a whole-body CT image into 29 distinct tissue types, including bone, muscle, and organ tissue. Figure 3 Automated detection of the humerus (yellow), tibia and fibula (blue), extreme points (pink circles), and bounding box surrounding the stifle joint (pink cube). Figure 2
10 www.pigchamp.com Spring 2025 Supplying Specialty Ingredients for Swine Nutrition KOLIN PLUSTM Greener Alternative to CHOLINE CHLORIDE We are your trusted partner for Kolin Plus FC, enzymes, yeast products, and macro-minerals! To learn more, visit https://www.barentz-na.com/us/animal-nutrition Always a better solution. berger et al., 2015). Since then, automated methods for the detection of diseased tissue have continued to develop, including state-of-the-art models for the segmentation of 3D images. These models utilize information from all three dimensions simultaneously, which greatly improves the accuracy of segmentation, particularly for adjacent tissue types. In an ongoing Norwegian research project, researchers from Topigs Norsvin, in collaboration with Associate Professor Kristin Olstad (Norwegian University of Life Sciences), are refining these models to segment lesions in the joints. The first aim of this project is to build segmentation models to detect osteochondrosis in specific regions, including the shoulder, elbow, stifle, and hock. The overall objective of this project is to combine these models with the current methods for joint detection to, ultimately, replace visual evaluation/manual scoring of osteochondrosis from CT images with a fully automated detection and scoring pipeline. Once developed, this pipeline can be extended to detect and score osteochondrosis at even more locations within the body. Topigs Norsvin’s CT Database Topigs Norsvin maintains a database of CT image data collected on approximately 75,000 total animals. This database continues to grow at the rate of 10,000 additional animals per year. This dataset is an extremely valuable reference population, used to develop/test new artificial intelligence models, novel traits, and, therefore, potential new selection targets. Developing models to automatically detect and score osteochondrosis from CT images is a great example of how AI can be used in a modern breeding program to improve health, sustainability, and profitability in pig production. Øyvind Nordbø Øyvind Nordbø leads the Precision Phenotyping Research Platform for Topigs Norsvin. He has been working as a researcher with the company for the past 12 years, optimizing the use of genotype data in breeding programs and developing automated phenotyping based on data from various types of sensors, like CT, cameras, and electronic feeder stations. He holds a PhD in Biological Physics from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
Spring 2025 www.pigchamp.com 11 In North America and many other pork-producing regions, pigs are weaned at a young age (approximately 21 days). Economically, this is a sensical decision on the producer’s part to help optimize all farm sow productivity and throughput. Physiologically, however, this can be a challenging time for piglets. We know that young pigs have poor stomach-acid production up to seven to eight weeks of age (Pluske, 2016), and many of the ingredients commonly used in nursery diets have a high acid-binding capacity (ABC-4; Stas et al., 2022), which can further raise the stomach’s pH. A high stomach pH is concerning because it can lead to a myriad of issues, ranging from poor nutrient digestibility to increased pathogen proliferation, diarrhea, and mortality. Considering all the other stressors involved during the weaning period, it’s the last thing a piglet needs. The use of acidifiers is a widespread practice that attempts to overcome this issue and promote growth and health benefits for piglets. The proposed mode of action includes reducing the pH in the GI tract, improvements in nutrient digestibility, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, and pathogen inhibition (Jacela et al., 2009). Ultimately, the objective is to reduce the diet’s ABC-4 (Acid-Binding Capacity-4 is the amount of acid needed to lower the pH of a feed ingredient or diet to 4, which is important for maintaining a healthy stomach environment in young pigs, especially after weaning). Unfortunately, most ingredients used in swine diets have a high ABC-4. For example, in a compilation of the most commonly used ingredients, Stas et al. (2022) reported that soybean meal, whey permeate, and spray-dried plasma have ABC-4 values of 602, 520, and 713 mEq/ kg (milliequivalents per kilogram), respectively. Other key ingredients, like limestone and zinc oxide, have extremely high ABC-4s of 18,384 and 21,863 mEq/kg, respectively. Acidifiers, on the other hand, have negative ABC-4 values and can help partially counteract the negative effects of a high-ABC-4 diet. ACIDIFIERS FOR NURSERY PIGS Recent Findings on the Use of Dr. Henrique Cemin, Senior Swine Nutritionist, Hubbard Feeds Table 1. Effects of increasing levels of Acid-Aid on the growth performance of nursery pigs (Trial 1)1 Table 2. Growth performance of nursery pigs fed diets with or without Acid-Aid (Trial 2)1
12 www.pigchamp.com Spring 2025 ABC-4 management can be achieved by avoiding ingredients known to have a high ABC-4 or by using more ingredients with a low or negative ABC-4. Stas et al. (2025) observed performance improvements when complete nursery diets had an ABC-4 of around 200 to 250 mEq/kg. The acidification of swine diets can be achieved by using an individual acid or blends of organic (such as fumaric, lactic, benzoic, or citric) and inorganic (hydrochloric or phosphoric) acids. Thanks to their potentially synergistic activities, blends of acidifiers could provide the most optimal responses. In a recent meta-analysis of 52 publications, Wang et al. (2022) concluded that blends of acids are superior to individual acids and consistently improve the average daily gains (ADG) and feed efficiency (F/G) of nursery pigs. Recently, the Alltech pork technical team conducted a series of four commercial-scale research trials to evaluate the effects of a blend of organic and inorganic acids (in the form of Alltech’s Acid-Aid) on the growth performance and health outcomes of nursery pigs. The results of these four studies were recently presented at the 2025 ASAS Midwest Section Meeting (Faccin et al., 2025; Hart et al., 2025). In trial 1 (Table 1), 2,529 nursery pigs were studied to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of the acidifier blend included in their diets, ranging from 0% to 0.47% (9.4 lbs./ton) for 16 days after weaning. The results of this pilot study showed a tendency for linear improvements in F/G as well as numerical improvements in ADG when the acidifier blend was included in the diet. Trial 2 (Table 2) was conducted to further elucidate the responses and included two levels of the acidifier: 0% or 0.235% (4.7 lbs./ton). In this trial—which also featured a total of 2,592 pigs and lasted through 16 days after weaning—pigs fed diets with the acidifier blend recorded a 4.7% improvement in their ADG and a 2.7% improvement in their F/G. Trial 3 (Table 3) compared the impacts of a control diet (with no acidifiers), the acidifier blend (0.265%), and pure benzoic acid (0.50%) on 1,081 pigs for the first 18 days after weaning. The inclusion levels of the acids were adjusted to achieve the same ABC-4 as in the complete diet. Consistent with the results of the previous trials, a significant improvement in ADG was observed in correlation with the acidification strategies. In contrast to the previous trials, however, the driver of that response was feed intake and not F/G. Finally, trial 4 (Table 4) studied 973 pigs to evaluate the effects of the acidifier blend or benzoic acid, similar to trial 3, with the exception that these pigs were fed the acidifiers throughout the entire 41day nursery period. Furthermore, the pigs used in trial 4 were by far the youngest, smallest, and most health-challenged group of pigs in this series of trials. Those facts may help explain the magnitude of the Table 3. Effects of the inclusion of different acidifiers in early nursery diets on pig performance (Trial 3)1,2 Table 4. Effects of the use of different acidifiers throughout the nursery phase on pig performance (Trial 4)1,2
Spring 2025 www.pigchamp.com 13 response observed in trial 4: The pigs that received the acidification strategies displayed an 11% higher ADG. Similarly to trial 3, this gain response was driven by feed intake, with no differences observed in F/G. As this group presented a more challenging start due to their health status and lower weaning age, a significant reduction in mortality and removal rate was also observed (Figure 1). That finding translated to almost 3% more full-value pigs out of the nursery in correlation with the acidification strategies. When considered altogether, these results demonstrate a consistent improvement in the growth performance of nursery pigs fed the acidifier blend, as illustrated through their increased intake levels and/or improvements in efficiency. Furthermore, in a situation where a health challenge is present or pigs are weaned at a very young age, acidification can prove to be even more valuable. It was determined that these results indicate that diet acidification is an effective strategy for nutritionists looking to maximize their nursery performance, throughput, and, ultimately, the economic performance of their operations. References: Faccin, J.E.G., H.S. Cemin, S.A. Hansen, M.D. Hart, E.L. Hansen, J.L. Pietig, and J.A. Soto. 2025. Effects of the inclusion of benzoic or a blend of organic and inorganic acids to nursery diets on pig performance and survivability. Journal of Animal Science (Abs.). Published: March 2025. Link: https://asasmidwest2025. eventscribe.net/ajaxcalls/PresentationInfo.asp?PresentationID=1549990 Note: Link is from the conference website. Hart, M.D., H.S. Cemin, J.A. Soto, J.E.G. Faccin, S.A. Hansen, and E.L. Hansen. 2025. The effects of Acid–Aid in-feed acidifier on nursery pig growth performance. Journal of Animal Science (Abs.). Published: March 2025. Link: https://asasmidwest2025. eventscribe.net/ajaxcalls/PresentationInfo.asp?PresentationID=1550031 Note: Link is from the conference website. Jacela, J. Y., J. M. DeRouchey, M. D. Tokach, R. D. Goodband, J. L. Nielssen, D. G. Renter, and S. S. Dritz. 2009. Feed additives for swine: Fact sheet – acidifiers and antibiotics. Journal of Swine Health and Production. 17:270-275. Published: September 2009. Link: https://www.aasv.org/shap/issues/v17n5/v17n5p270. pdf Pluske, J.R. 2016. Invited review: Aspects of gastrointestinal tract growth and maturation in the pre- and postweaning period of pigs. Journal of Animal Science. 94:399-411. Published: September 1, 2016. Link: https://academic.oup.com/jas/article-abstract/94/suppl_3/399/4731486?redirectedFrom=fulltext Stas, E.B., M.D. Tokach, J.M. DeRouchey, R.D. Goodband, J.C. Woodworth, and J.T. Gebhardt. 2022. Evaluation of the acid-binding capacity of ingredients and complete diets commonly used for weanling pigs. Translational Animal Science. 6:1-9. Published: August 17, 2022. Link: https://academic.oup. com/tas/article/6/3/txac104/6670570 Stas, E.B., M.D. Tokach, J.C. Woodworth, J.M. DeRouchey, R.D. Goodband, and J.T. Gebhardt. 2025. Evaluation of dietary acid-binding capacity level on nursery pig growth performance and fecal dry matter. Journal of Animal Science. Published: February 12, 2025. Link: https://academic.oup.com/jas/article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jas/skaf039/8010094?redirectedFrom=- fulltext Wang, H., W. Long, D. Chadwick, X. Zhang, S. Zhang, X. Piao, and Y. Hou. 2022. Dietary acidifiers as an alternative to antibiotics for promoting pig growth performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Animal Feed Science and Technology. 289:115320. Published: July 2022. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0377840122001183 Dr. Henrique Cemin Dr. Henrique Cemin is a Senior Swine Nutritionist at Hubbard Feeds, where he provides technical services and manages the company's swine research and development projects. Figure 1 The mortality and removal rate and the number of full-value pigs were observed in trial 4. A total of 973 pigs were used in this 42-day trial to evaluate the effects of including 0.50% benzoic acid or 0.265% Acid-Aid in the pigs’ diets.
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Spring 2025 www.pigchamp.com 15 Natural choline sources occur at meaningful levels in most feed ingredients; which is the main reason why choline is not considered to be a vitamin in the classic sense. That said, the feed industry has learned from experience that there are certainly many feeding conditions where choline becomes inadequate for optimum animal health and performance, which is why target choline levels are considered in several stages of swine production. Choline (and related metabolites) has three broad physiological roles in the animal: 1. Building and maintaining cellular structures; 2. Mobilizing and metabolizing lipids in support of liver function, and; 3. Neurotransmission maintenance. Choline flows quickly through the animal system and is metabolically altered for specific biological purposes by oxidation, phosphorylation, and acetylation pathways (Chen et al., 2024). Choline naturally occurs in various bulk ingredients, such as soybean meal, primarily in the form of phosphatidylcholine. Why do we Feed it? There are, of course, several production benefits associated with choline supplementation, particularly in sows and piglets. Choline supplementation in sows has been shown to increase sow litter size, improve conception rate, and lead to more live-born and weaned piglets (K-State Animal Science, 2022). The use of choline supplementation in gestating and lactating diets has a positive influence on sow milk composition, bodily choline concentrations, and piglet performance (Mudd et al., 2016; Getty and Dilger, 2015). Choline is often not included as a supplement to the animals in the grow/finish phase, as choline requirements are met by intrinsic (natural) choline forms from bulk ingredients. However, supplementation of choline during this phase has been shown to positively alter the gut microbiota and can lead to improvements in body weight gain (Jiao et al., 2018; Xie et al., 2023). Classic choline deficiency signs are not common in swine production systems, as most requirements are met by well-formulated diets with external choline chloride supplementation. However, with the omission of supplemental choline or a possible choline antagonist, signs of choline deficiency can include reduced growth and reproductive performance, as well as increased fat accumulation around the liver and miss-formation of cartilage and tendons. Choline Recommendations According to the NRC (National Research Council) in 2012, choline requirements are 600-1,250 ppm (parts per million) in gestation and lactating sows diets and 400-600 ppm in starter, grower, and finisher diets. Practical diets that are high in intrinsic choline can often meet the pig’s requirements for choline. In piglets, the choline requirement is met through milk. Pigs are also able to meet some of their dietary choline needs through internal conversion of the amino acid methionine. While most of the US-based diets theoretically have enough intrinsic choline to meet requirements, the uniform bioavailability of the feed choline is questionable. Unfortunately, little research work has been done examining choline bioavailability in common feedstuffs, and the research that has been completed was published over 25 years ago. Previous work done by the NRC in 1994 shows that soybean meal has a choline level of around 2,300 mg/kg (the amount in milligrams that is present per kilogram of an individual’s body weight), and DDGS (distillers dried grains with solubles—this is a co-product of ethanol production that is widely used as a feed ingredient) has a choline level of around 2,100 mg/kg, with almost all of that being in the form of phosphatidylcholine. In the past 25 years, there have been numerous changes to how we feed pigs, along with advancements in pig genetics, and how ingredients are processed and sourced. It is uncertain whether past research properly represents the current status of intrinsic choline supply and bioavailability. AN ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT WITH NEW PERSPECTIVES CholineWhile pigs can synthesize some choline, dietary supplementation is often necessary to meet their physiological needs. Jordyn Studer, Poultry Technical Service Specialist, Barentz North America
16 www.pigchamp.com Spring 2025 Traditional Choline Supplementation External choline supplementation has traditionally been in the form of dry or liquid choline chloride. The amount of active choline in these products typically runs about 60% for dry, carrier-based choline chloride and 70-75% for liquid choline chloride. Many operators and nutritionists opt for the liquid form due to the hygroscopic and hyper-reactive/destructive properties of dry choline chloride. Because of its hygroscopicity, dry choline chloride can have flowability and clumping issues that can lead to feed blending problems. Additionally, choline chloride should not be put into a premix due to the likelihood of degrading vitamins and minerals. Choline chloride also has the potential to shorten the life of feed plant equipment. For as yet unresearched reasons, only about onethird of dry choline chloride can be absorbed and utilized by the pig. Tri-methyl amine (TMA) is also used in the synthesis of dry choline chloride and has been known to cause off-flavored and poorer quality meat, with pork having a high concentration of TMA being described as having an off-putting, fishy-smelling odor (Hamid et al., 2014). Although feed-grade choline chloride is considered an inexpensive way to boost dietary choline levels, this method of choline supplementation can lead to potential concerns within feed application and equipment. Metabolic Derivatives of Choline As mentioned earlier, choline can be metabolized by three different metabolic pathways depending on the physiological needs of the pig. The oxidation pathway yields betaine, which has several useful physiological roles in the pig, especially related to methyl group metabolism. Betaine itself is also a common feed ingredient that is sometimes included in swine diets. The application of direct supplementation of betaine in swine diets has been shown to have positive effects on carcass and meat quality due to its positive effects on the fat metabolism. Betaine can assist in the metabolic synthesis of carnitine and phosphatidylcholine, both of which are involved in fat transport and fat oxidation. Betaine can also convert homocysteine to methionine by donating one of its three methyl groups and therefore increases methionine concentration in the body. Another unique property of betaine is its cellular protective capabilities as an osmolyte. Betaine is commonly included in diets as a heat stress aid. However, because betaine cannot conversely be converted to choline, betaine can only reduce (spare) the choline requirement and is not a choline source as such. As in plants, the phosphorylation pathway of choline creates phosphatidylcholine, which is the most abundant form of choline found in the body. Phosphatidylcholine is involved in many functions in the body, being a large component of many cell structures and highly involved in metabolizing and mobilizing lipids from intestinal absorption. Phosphatidylcholine is essentially a fat-soluble form of choline and is indirectly involved in all pathways for choline in the body. Crude phosphatidylcholine—extracted from oilseeds or other plant materials—is commonly referred to as lecithin. Historically, lecithin has been valued more for its physical fat-emulsifying properties than for its choline contribution, as such. Interestingly, a new plant-based product from Barentz Animal Nutrition, Kolin Plus, is based on highly available phosphatidylcholine and four different bioactive phytogenic materials (plant-derived substances used in animal nutrition). This material has been shown in research to be a natural alternative to synthetic feed-grade choline chloride but at a lower use rate. The Kolin Plus product is non-hygroscopic and chemically non-reactive, which therefore means it is more suitable for premixes and other blending applications for swine. Conclusion Choline is an essential but often overlooked nutrient in swine diets. Gestating, lactating, and nursery pig diets are the common phases in which choline is added. However, little contemporary research work has been done to discover the true bioavailability of natural choline sources in feed ingredients. This is why an extra focus on external choline supplementation is warranted and needed. Synthetic feed-grade choline chloride can be a very difficult material to use in feed applications, but effective alternatives are currently being introduced into the market. A new product from Barentz Animal Nutrition supplies choline in the form of natural phosphatidylcholine, plus high levels of natural phytogenic materials. This product not only has the potential to help assure cost-effective animal performance, but it will also eliminate some of the problematic handling issues of synthetic feed-grade choline chloride. Jordyn Studer Jordyn Studer is a Poultry Technical Service Specialist at Barentz North America. She has a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from Purdue University and a Master’s in poultry nutrition from Virginia Tech. She is a 2020 graduate of the Midwest Poultry Consortium’s Center of Excellence program and a 2018 American FFA degree recipient.
Spring 2025 www.pigchamp.com 17 CHALLENGES WITH VENTILATION TECHNOLOGY Addressing Barn Management Pig production is an ever-changing business with new challenges arising regularly. From disease prevention to meeting compliance with animal confinement regulations, the latest set of challenges certainly continues the tradition of having serious repercussions on the industry. Although many questions remain on how to properly manage these issues, one thing is certain—ventilation technology is a key component in adapting to current demands. PMSM Fans The newest ventilation fans available to pig producers use Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) technology. These motors offer variable-speed capability, unlike traditional on/off fans that only run at full speed or not at all. PMSM is also an improvement over TRIAC-controlled fans, which can run at variable speeds but use energy-wasting technology to do so. TRIACs (Triode for Alternating Current) work by simply taking away voltage from the motor to run at slower speeds. Unfortunately, this can be damaging to the motor over time—especially for those higher voltage motors—and it also reduces the amount of torque produced by the motor. The energy that is taken away from the motor is burned off through a heat sink, so the producer doesn’t experience energy savings. On the other hand, PMSM fans use magnets to turn the rotor, which spins at the same speed as the internal rotating magnetic field. These fans can produce up to 30 percent more cubic feet per minute (CFM) than traditional barn fans. They can also reduce energy costs by up to 90 percent when the fans are running at 30 percent of speed. As the speed is reduced, less energy is consumed. Another benefit of PMSM fans is that they maintain constant torque, even at lower speeds, allowing them to react quickly and ramp up speed more easily when needed. If a headwind hits the fan or pressure in the room changes, the blades of a PMSM fan won’t slow down, thanks to the improved torque. Controller Technology The latest barn management controllers allow producers to take full advantage of PMSM technology. This includes the ability to achieve smoother linear curves in airflow. A look at how innovative ventilation solutions are designed to tackle common barn management obstacles and ensure optimal livestock health and productivity. Chris Elvidge, Engineering and Tech Service Manager, PigTek It’s not enough just to have fans; for the best efficiency, the type of fan and its placement location are key.
18 www.pigchamp.com Spring 2025 For example, traditional fans with a 30,000 CFM (849 m³/min) output will instantaneously increase room ventilation by 30,000 CFM as each fan is turned on, which can produce a chilling effect on pigs. On the other hand, variable-rate fans can be automated to gradually increase cubic feet per minute in the room as needed so that pigs aren’t shocked by drastic climate changes. Depending on the operation, producers may not need to invest in all variable-speed fans to meet their ventilation needs. In many cases, a blend of traditional fans and PMSM fans is recommended. For instance, cheaper on/off fans can be used for minimum ventilation, while the more expensive PMSM fans can be installed for additional ventilation needs. Today’s controllers can effectively manage this type of setup to achieve the benefits of variable-speed fans but with a lower upfront cost. Another common configuration is to have every other pit fan be variable speed. These can be programmed to run at slower speeds during minimum ventilation to provide uniform airflow throughout the barn and help eliminate dead zones. The latest controllers are easier to program than older systems, allowing producers to fine-tune fan settings for maximum pig performance. While most ventilation systems are programmed to maintain specific temperature ranges, many producers have found benefits from monitoring other factors and adjusting fan settings to optimize them. Humidity plays a key role in the comfort level of pigs. Although the temperature within a barn may stay constant, having high humidity levels can negatively chill pigs at night when the sun goes down and the fans are running. Carbon dioxide level is another key factor in herd health and performance that often goes unmanaged. Sensors can be used to detect these and other variables. Then, controllers can be easily programmed to run fans as needed to optimize them. Some of the most successful producers improve barn climate by adjusting settings for these other factors and then closely monitoring pig behavior to measure success. Another benefit of pairing newer controllers with PMSM fans is the data collection capabilities. The controller can record motor temperature, vibration, energy consumption, and other information. By generating reports and analyzing the data, producers can take barn management to the next level. Adapting Ventilation for Open Pens The latest PMSM fan and controller technologies have many useful applications to capable of addressing today’s challenges. One of the benefits is an increased transition from traditional crate facilities to electronic sow feeding or other open pen configurations. Traditional ventilation systems work well in tunnel barns when pigs are concentrated consistently throughout the barn in crates. As the heat rises above the bottom three or four feet of the barn, the shape of the building will allow the fans to easily remove the heat. When pigs are allowed to roam freely, because of the randomness of their movement, they don’t distribute themselves evenly, which creates cool and hot zones within the barn. Although managing the cool and hot zones within a tunnel barn is simple, it can be improved with variable-speed fans. Gradual increases in airflow greatly reduce pig chilling effects, helping to reduce abortions, mortality rates, and other issues caused by sows piling up to stay warm in open environments. Reducing Labor Through Ventilation Tech These technologies also help reduce labor requirements. The Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor fans use direct drives, which eliminate the undesirable job of maintaining belts, pulleys, and tensioners. Additionally, today’s advanced controllers can automate practically all barn functions to remove many other manual processes. The future holds even more promise for reducing maintenance and labor needs through these technologies when the fan and motor data gathered by the controller is used for predictive maintenance. If, for instance, the temperature of a component is rising suspiciously or it is experiencing excessive vibration, then producers can shut down the component and perform preventative maintenance before failure occurs. This capability has been largely untapped but has the potential to be one of the next big steps forward in addressing labor and service challenges on the farm. Ventilation Use to Enhance Biosecurity Measures Next, the threat of diseases such as PED (Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea) and PRRS (Porcine ReproducA cross-section of a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) fan motor.
Spring 2025 www.pigchamp.com 19 HERE FOR YOU™ For All Your Hog Equipment Needs SWING-FIX® GESTATION STALLS HERO® FANS PIGCENTRAL® & CENTRO™ CONTROLS CHAIN DISC FEEDING SYSTEM tive and Respiratory Syndrome) has many producers updating ventilation systems in an attempt to stop the spread. Some are adopting positive or negative pressure ventilation. Others are installing filtration systems. In either case, PMSM fans are ideal for maintaining conditions in these barns. Thanks to the constant torque provided by PMSM fans, they can adjust to pressure changes almost instantaneously to maintain a consistent environment. TRIAC drives lack the torque to adequately deal with these pressure changes, and simple on/off fans have difficulty maintaining constant pressures in a barn. Cutting Energy Costs with New Technology Although energy savings are often lower on the priority list for producers when designing a ventilation system, PMSM fans can significantly improve the bottom line due to drastically lower electricity usage. As mentioned, PMSM fans can reduce energy costs by up to 90 percent, and the rate of return will likely increase in the future. Energy costs have gradually risen over time, and this trend isn’t likely to change. The push to transition to renewable energy sources may cause steeper increases going forward. PMSM fans and advanced whole-house controllers are not only wise investments now, but they can also help position pig producers for the future. This is especially true since the latest controllers offer easy software updates, preventing the risk of them becoming obsolete anytime soon. So, whenever the next challenges arise, adapting to them may be a breeze when using the latest ventilation technologies. Outdoor fans at pig farms play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy and comfortable environment for the pigs, providing ventilation, temperature control, humidity management, and energy efficiency. Chris Elvidge Chris Elvidge is the Engineering and Tech Service Manager for PigTek, a division of CTB, Inc., headquartered in Milford, Indiana. He has been with CTB since 2005 and is responsible for the development of new PigTek products and the modification of existing products to meet hog industry needs.
20 www.pigchamp.com Spring 2025 VARIABLE MEAN SD MEDIAN UPPER 10 LOWER 10 PERCENTILE PERCENTILE Total number of services 6051.95 6018.880 6088.50 13577.00 200.00 Number repeat services 284.03 315.735 188.50 726.00 5.00 Percent repeat services 5.77 4.121 4.83 11.53 1.09 Number of sows farrowed 5357.75 5224.680 5499.00 12169.00 168.00 Total pigs born 86157.32 84644.790 85464.50 196279.00 2430.00 Average total pigs per litter 15.96 1.098 16.07 17.17 14.68 Total pigs born alive 77600.12 76909.660 75864.00 177187.00 2233.00 Average pigs born alive/litter 14.27 1.142 14.31 15.50 13.12 Liveborn/female/yr 31.87 5.156 31.99 37.37 25.71 Total stillborn pigs 5526.13 5501.760 4594.00 12029.00 202.00 Average stillborn pigs 1.14 0.388 1.07 1.61 0.70 Total mummified pigs born 3031.06 3489.380 2597.50 5850.00 54.00 Average mummies per litter 0.55 0.381 0.49 0.82 0.25 Farrowing rate 83.81 8.322 85.91 92.04 71.81 Pre-weaning mortality 14.17 4.588 13.48 20.70 9.40 Sows farrowed and weaned 5304.57 5163.550 5498.00 11375.00 168.00 Average age at weaning 20.99 2.493 20.38 23.86 18.83 Total pigs weaned 66208.37 66080.440 65000.50 149374.00 1981.00 Average litter weaning weight (n=25) 117.26 70.012 148.86 195.00 12.98 Pigs weaned per litter weaned 12.47 1.206 12.49 13.88 11.12 Pigs wnd / mated female / yr 28.57 4.489 28.87 34.33 22.70 Pigs wnd / female / year 27.25 4.605 27.62 32.47 21.25 Females entered 1315.81 1738.980 952.50 3170.00 15.00 Sow and gilt deaths 312.25 314.408 284.50 659.00 7.00 Death rate 12.51 5.065 12.10 18.30 6.40 Sows and gilts culled 1192.34 1250.480 994.50 2822.00 34.00 Culling rate (n=164) 45.58 13.441 45.80 58.40 31.20 Total sows 2568.18 1955.610 2428.50 4964.00 549.00 Ending boar inventory 6.37 11.274 2.00 14.00 0.00 US & Canadian Farms 2024 Year Summary Number of farms = 174
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22 www.pigchamp.com Spring 2025 There’s no fudging the figures. At 60 to 70 percent of the total cost of raising an animal, feed is every producer’s biggest expense. To reach peak performance productivity, animals need a constant supply of feed. But when that flow of feed is interrupted, it can lead to growth delays, increased mortality, and other health issues—all of which impact feed conversion ratios (FCR). Or, that’s the thinking, anyway. To date, however, there hasn’t been a clear, definitive correlation between feed outages and higher FCR scores. But now, a new, long-term swine study spearheaded by the agricultural tech firm BinSentry claims to have found the missing link. Fighting for Every Point of FCR So, why all the fuss over FCR in the first place? Why is it such an important benchmark, and how does it impact profitability? According to Jim Moody, the Chief Operating Officer at Hanor, FCR is a critical metric that directly impacts profitability, so much so that people will often fight for fraction-of-a-point improvements. Hanor, headquartered in Enid, Oklahoma, is a premier, world-class leader in pork production with operations in six states and nearly 650 employees. “The way we see it, there are two key components to feed conversion. One is the performance of the pig, and the second is how that feed is actually distributed and managed onsite,” explained Moody. For Hanor specifically, one point of feed conversion per head is worth about $0.30. While it may seem like a small number, consider that Hanor produces around two million pigs annually. “That means just a single point of FCR across our entire system becomes the difference of US$600,000,” pointed out Moody. How Out-of-Feed Events Impact FCR BinSentry’s technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced sensors to create a detailed 3D image of the feed surface inside a bin and capture accurate, real-time inventory data. The company currently monitors tens of thousands of feed bins on swine and poultry operations across North America, a number that’s growing by over 3,000 bins per month. “When we talk about feed outages on a swine or THE CONNECTION Uncovering A long-term swine study finds a missing link between feed outages and feed conversion ratios. Len Kahn, Chief Marketing Officer, BinSentry
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