While it may seem early to be discussing summer infertility, many breeding herds on pig farms have predictable dips in fertility associated with seasonal — or unseasonal! — weather, warns Paul Thompson, veterinary consultant to pig-breeding company, ACMC.
To help overcome this problem, extra gilts need to be served to compensate for reduced fertility. On many farms gilts may be delivered 2-3 months ahead of service so this needs to be planned well in advance.
He therefore advises pig farmers to analyse the last few years performance records to predict drops in performance so that there is plenty of time for them to speak to their breeding stock suppliers to organise extra herd replacements.
