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Dr. Joe Connor, Carthage (IL) Veterinary Service, consults
with producers using and converting to wean-to-finish systems.
He offers these management suggestions:
- Start with the proper environment.
Facilities should be adequately ventilated using either
natural or tunnel ventilation. Zone heating from radiant
systems or heat lamps should be regulated to provide an
ideal zone temperature of 85' Fahrenheit, with room temperatures
maintained at 75' while pigs are small. Room temperatures
can be backed down to 65' when pigs near finishing. Flooring
can be concrete slats with one inch slots. Some producers
have installed plastic flooring for added comfort.
- Place plastic or rubber comfort
mats in pens for one or two weeks after loading. Feed
starter pellets two to three times daily on mats using two
parts water to one part pellets.
- Use dry finishing feeders with
solid dividers. Trough lip should be low enough that
little pigs can have adequate access to feed. Wider feed
spaces allow two or three pigs to group together at feeding.
- Install one cup waterer per
20 pigs. Cup waterers work well because little pigs
are drawn to the small amount of fresh water that remains
in the cup after use.
- Practice good nutrition management
that incorporates phase feeding. Consider growth charting
as a tool to aid in ration formulation.
 Click
here for more Wean-to-finish information.
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