Tool simplifies change to batch farrowing

NSW Agriculture has made it easier for pork producers to make the change from a continuous farrowing system to batch farrowing with the release of a new planner.

Designed by the department's pork products team at Tamworth, the batch farrowing planner is available free of charge when downloaded from NSW Agriculture's web site.

Batch farrowing, and then batching pigs by age and managing them as an all-in/all-out production system can overcome many of the health, hygiene and production problems associated with conventional continuous flow production systems.

While batching offers improved productivity and lifestyle benefits, a common constraint to conversion is planning for the change, according to NSW Agriculture pig adviser, Greg Roese.

The batch farrowing planner helps producers by creating and maintaining the batches of sows," Mr Roese said.

Producers simply enter their chosen options including the date they wish to commence and the batch farrowing planner automatically calculates the date sequence to establish a batch farrowing management system."

He said producers have traditionally used a continuous flow production method, which usually involves weekly matings, farrowings and weanings.

"Batch farrowing forms sows into groups which are mated and weaned at distinct intervals. Depending on the producers' setup, batches are usually formed every four to five weeks apart.

"Batching also creates an opportunity for smaller producers to improve their efficiencies and adopt technologies employed by large piggeries without any increase in labour.

"In the current volatile environment this would be of particular interest to producers considering their future in the industry."

The planner can be downloaded free of charge directly from NSW Agriculture web site. Anyone wishing to obtain the planner on CD-ROM or a printed copy of the User Guide can purchase them for $25.00 from NSW Agriculture's Tamworth office.

Media contact: Greg Roese, NSW Agriculture Tamworth

Issued by: Annette Cross, NSW Agriculture Tamworth