CommunicationsSeedstock EDGE | “For the Record” | “The Pinnacle” | |
| Seedstock EDGE Seedstock EDGE main | Seedstock EDGE archives Advertising rates/deadlines | Mail dates Subscribe today! | Seedstock EDGE staff |
Marketing Update
The One-Third Theory
by Mark Meurer, Director of Seedstock Marketing
I have a customer who graduated three children from the University of Illinois. One is a neurosurgeon, one is an engineer and one is a marketing representative. Not a bad return on his education investment. Amazingly, all three diplomas were financed on 400 acres and 300 pasture-farrowed sows. Needless to say, when this customer speaks, I listen.
My customer has a theory. He believes that modern sows can be divided into thirds. One-third enters the herd, one-third goes to the junk market and the final one-third goes on the dead truck. Fortunately for my customer, this theory is not a reality on his farm. He still believes in stockmanship and building sows from the ground up. Unfortunately, the rest of the industry tests the one-third theory much too often.
Rick Pfortmiller, Director of Commercial Services and I recently attended a swine conference where “the sow” was the topic of several presentations. Whether the seminars focused on sow mortality, viability, or longevity, it was obvious that “the sow” had taken center stage.
During one particular seminar, the speaker (an employee of a very large genetic company) admitted that sow attrition is linked to four areas of concern. As sow mortality has risen from 7% to over 15% in the past six years, concern is obviously warranted.
According to the speaker, the major factor that contributes to rocketing attrition rates is the genetic makeup of today’s sow herd. Unbelievably, he admits that high attrition rates can be linked to genetic suppliers (including the company who signs his paycheck) that have ignored traditional breeding programs and microgeneticized (I think I just made that word up), for leanness and growth rate. In other words, suppliers who have over-emphasized terminal traits in the sow herd have added to attrition rates, while those traditional suppliers who have combined structural correctness, genetic superiority and sensible leanness have kept attrition rates to minimal levels.
Secondly, the presenter admitted that sow attrition is linked to the physical characteristics of today’s herd. Specifically he cited leg design and body conformation as major reasons for increasing attrition rates. In his mind, too many genetic suppliers have bred gilts solely by numbers and indexes. While the computer is a valuable number-crunching tool, it cannot evaluate hogs based on physical traits. Hence, feet, leg and body composition have been neglected.
Needless to say, Rick and I looked at each other with cat-like grins as the speaker continued to espouse the ideals that we (UltraCROSS Swine Breeding Solutions) present everyday.
We believe the industry has been led down the wrong sow path. Too many genetic suppliers jumped on the leanness bandwagon and bred their gilts too lean. They certainly got the packers attention, but at what expense? Unfortunately, our sow herd was sacrificed for leanness. UltraCROSS believes that sow attrition can be minimized if we keep adequate cover on our sows and focus on born alive, birth weights, numbers weaned, return to estrus and most importantly, structural correctness. Leanness is important, but not at the expense of increasing attrition rates. Think about it, what is more economical, 55% lean market hogs from a sow that lasts two parities or 53% lean hogs from a sow who lasts five parities?
UltraCROSS also agrees that the physical state of our sow herd is adding to higher attrition rates. Many genetic companies have bred hogs by indexes and ignored the physical structure of the animal. While the genetic makeup of their sows may be fine, the physical state of their genetics leaves a lot to be desired. With replacement rates over 40% in most herds, one has to wonder, are these sows being designed for high replacement rates or have the companies bred sows by numbers for too long? UltraCROSS believes that a successful genetic program breeds sows from the ground up. Toes, legs, structure, design and durability come first, then numbers can be applied. In our estimation, stockmanship still matters.
If the one-third theory is reality on your farm, please call UltraCROSS, today. We can help you design a breeding program that reduces sow attrition and keeps the dead and junk truck out of your driveway.
You need sows that can last. Call UltraCROSS Swine Breeding Solutions, first.
