Evaluation of management practices and its effect on production parameters in swine farms in the tropic

Fredy Quiroz-Cardoso¹Jaime Olivares-Pérez^1*Saúl Rojas-Hernández¹Miguel A. Damián-Valdez¹Abel Villa-Mancera²Lucero Sarabia-Salgado¹Agustín Olmedo-Juárez³Eduardo E. Robledo Reyes¹Regulo Jiménez Guillen³Moisés Cipriano Salazar¹

• ¹Autonomous University of Guerrero, Chilpancingo, Mexico
• ²Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
• ³Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agricolas y Pecuarias Centro Nacional de Recursos Geneticos, Tepatitlán de Morelos, Mexico

Pig farms face losses in different production areas and are mainly related to inadequate management practices and lack of knowledge about the use of technologies that do not require large investments, but rather orderly attention to the production process [1]. The assistance during farrowing decreased the mortality at birth of piglets and therefore improved litter sizes at birth [2]. Ensuring colostrum ingestion in the first hours and a heat source (39°C) are core strategies to promote the viability of piglets until weaning [3,4]. There are reports that the litter size was associated with before weaning mortality and that the decrease in piglet mortality in the lactation stage from 18% to 8% increase the productivity of the farm in terms of the weaned piglets number in 2.2 piglets average [3]. On the other hand, Alonso-Ríos et al. [5] suggested that the use of pre-starters favored the adaptation of piglets from a liquid to solid diet and resulted in higher weaning weights with fewer digestive problems. Another factor that affects and is related to the fertility of the sow is the days of lactation, which had an influence on the return to estrus and ovulation [6]. Production in Guerrero is carried out in 72% backyard conditions and only 28% of the farms are semi-technical, demonstrating that it faces problems of low production, sustainability, profitability and competitiveness, due to the low use of technology. The objective was to evaluate the effect of the adoption of nine technologies in pig farmers with technical assistance and training for three consecutive years, on changes in productive and reproductive parameters of the participating farms. Article types: Data reports article The present study covered three years of technical assistance and training on pig farms in the communities of Rincón de la Cocina and Tierra colorada, in Mpio. of Tepecuacuilco de Trujano, Guerrero, Mexico. It is located in the Northern Region of the state of Guerrero, located at 18° 18' 00" North latitude and -99° 29' 00" West longitude. The predominant climate is subhumid-warm with temperatures ranging from 24.8 °C to 31.5 °C. The annual precipitation is 700 to 1100 mm, and an altitude of 849 meters above sea level. We worked with 30 pig farmers organized in the "GGAVATT Rincon de la cocina" and provided training and advice on nine technologies for three years. The percentage of adoption of the nine technologies was determined, which were: Implementation of records (productive, reproductive and economic), Adequate management of the piglet, monitoring of the puerperium, Balancing and preparation of diets by stage, use of pre-starters, implementation of artificial insemination (AI), Vaccination schedules, Deworming schedules and replacement female's selection.For the purposes of this study, each technology was previously defined and standardized based on technical manuals, official regulations and scientific literature, in order to ensure uniformity in its implementation and evaluation among the production units [1]. Adequate control required the systematic implementation of productive, reproductive and economic records [7](Torres-Novoa et al., 2007). Proper piglet management included practices at birth and during lactation (immediate drying and cleaning of the piglet, disinfection of the navel, consumption of colostrum in the first hours of life, brooder at 39 °C, supply of iron dextran, tail and tusk cutting, castration, use of pre-starters and weaning at 28 days) [1]. Adequate nutrition by production phase was defined as the formulation and supply of balanced diets by growth stage (pre-starter, lactation, weaning, growth, development and finishing) according to the nutritional requirements of the species established by the NRC [8], considering crude protein, metabolizable energy, minerals and vitamins, as well as appropriate practices for preparation, storage and supply of feed. Postpartum monitoring included daily supervision of the sow's food and water intake, assessment of uterine involution, maintenance of hygiene in the maternity area, and application of preventive health measures during the first 24 hours postpartum [9]. The selection of replacements was based on the recommendations of Flowers [10].The implementation of artificial insemination (AI) was implemented when producers applied estrus detection protocols, use of certified semen doses, hygienic handling of the material, timely insemination, and service records, with the objective of improving reproductive efficiency and avoiding health risks associated with natural mating [11]. The vaccination schedule was defined as the programmed application of preventive biologicals according to the productive stage of the animals, considering the mixed porcine bacterin (Pasteurellosis, Colibacillosis and Salmonellosis in swine: MSD Animal Health. Reg. SAGARPA B-0273-133) and the Gesta-vac vaccine (Parvovirus, Leptospira and Erysipelas. Reg. SAGARPA B-2083-004) [12,13]. The deworming schemes consisted of the application of internal and external anthelmintics [13,9]. The technologies were related to changes in the productive and reproductive parameters of the farms of each of the pig farmers, and the parameters at the beginning and end of the assistance and training were taken as a reference. With the information obtained, a database was generated in Excel (Microsoft Office, 2013) for subsequent analysis through descriptive statistics (measures of central tendency). The methodology used for technology transfer was that implemented by the "GGAVATT Rincón de la Cocina". The significance of the observed changes was compared with the Tukey statistical tests for quantitative variables and Chi square for qualitative variables; in both cases an alpha of ≤0.05 was used Nine management practices and technologies were implemented, grouped into six categories, of which 100% were transferred to the group, but each one was adopted in different proportions, as presented in Table 1. The results show that the pig farmers were unaware or had little knowledge of the technologies at the beginning of assistance and training technical, which in some way is reflected in the low use of technological innovations, it is assumed that thanks to the transfer of technologies implemented by the GGAVATT Rincón de la Cocina, technical and productive results were improved of the UPs (Table 2).Among the most adopted technologies, three stood out, and they were: records (productive, reproductive and economic) with 76.7%, Use of deworming calendars (76.7%) and diet balancing and preparation by growth stages (56.7%). The use and evaluation of records should be mandatory in daily practice in order to make decisions about productive and reproductive management, since with their evaluation we can realize the behavior of the farm and detect productive problems to solve them. The records should be simple, easy to fill out, tabulate and interpret, they should always provide the minimum necessary information. The second technology was related to health (43.3% implemented a vaccination schedule and 76.6% deworming) and was of utmost importance, since it is recommended that PUs should adopt biosafety measures to reduce the risks of spreading diseases between and within of the herd, or, where appropriate, prevent it from spreading to different areas [14]. Remembering that the improvement of swine health will only be effective if a comprehensive Biosafety program is designed, planned and put into practice, where vaccine prophylaxis is a key point but not the only one. Vaccination, as the only measure to prevent, control and eradicate diseases, does not comprehensively cover the diversity of health aspects that occur on the farm; however, it is part of a whole and is only a complementary measure to combat epidemics. The fight against diseases must be carried out in an integrated way, through several fronts such as hygienic measures of cleaning and disinfection, vector control, animal management that improves well-being and avoids stress, personnel hygiene, control of visits, animal quarantine, isolation and protection of buildings, sanitary vacuum, among other actions.In feeding, the balancing and preparation of diets by productive stages can result in a practice with great economic benefits for producers, if we consider that feeding represents around 65% of production costs [15], therefore, priority was given to this technology where progress was achieved in 56.7% of the producers (Table 1). It is not enough for a diet to meet the nutritional needs of pigs; the formulation must obey official norms [8]. Likewise, the food must be easy to preserve and provide at different stages. Once the formulation is completed, the next step is to ensure that it is prepared under conditions that guarantee its safety, traceability and low cost [14].The use of artificial insemination (AI) had an adoption of 46.7%, highlighting that among the main advantages is the economic savings implied by not purchasing animals for direct mating, therefore the demand for facilities, food, operators and drugs, mainly, and on the contrary AI facilitates the rapid dissemination of genetic progress due to the use of sires of higher reproductive value, reduces the risks of transmission of infectious diseases through sexual [11].The technology that included the most steps to follow was the proper handling of the piglet and this was adopted by 46.7% of the producers. The proper management practices of the piglet consisted of cleaning and drying at birth, cutting and disinfecting the navel at birth, promoting suckling of piglets in the first hours of life. Tail cutting, fangs and application of dextran iron on the third day of the piglet's life. Environmental control practices (breeders that maintained the temperature at 39°C) and facility hygiene prevented diarrhea and cases of hypothermic piglets. The piglets castration on the tenth day, weaning at 28 days, five days before the piglets were started with a solid diet (pre-starter: 22% crude protein and 3.1 Mcal of metabolizable energy) were practices developed by 43.3% of the pig farmers. Producers who implemented practices related to piglet management decreased mortality and improved parameters in this stage of growth (Table 2).The 40% of the producers worked on postpartum monitoring, which consisted of monitoring nutrition and feeding based on the milk production of the sows, the number of piglets and the positive or negative energy balance during lactation, the microclimate for the sow and the piglet, uterine involution was controlled by supporting the sow with injectable prostaglandins and long-acting antibiotics, the first 24 hours postpartum. Stimulate the consumption of feed, fiber and water after the sow farrows. Maintain biosafety in the maternity ward. Monitor sow feed consumption, defecation and urination daily. Keeping the farrowing beds clean, eliminating sows with high parity, extremely thin and repetitive beyond the fifth farrowing, these practices improved fertility parameters and shortened the interval between farrowing's, weaning-gestation (days) in the sows and indirectly the weight and number of the birth and weaned piglets (Table 2) [9]. The selection of replacement females went from 10 to 26.7%, it has been showed that the age at first estrus (before 220 days), the body weight upon entering the UP of 139 kg and the DWG of 600 g/day, they are significantly associated with the reproductive behavior and longevity of reproductive females, with this, delivery is achieved before 365 days of life, with a decrease in non-productive days. All of the above emphasizes the importance of raising future breeders under a controlled diet and not as pigs destined for fattening.With respect to the parameters as indicators of progress, all technologies had a beneficial impact (Table 2), fertility increased by 14%, breastfeeding days decreased by 33.4 %, birth weight increased by 0.290 kg average per piglet, the weaned piglet's number per litter increased by 3.2 after technological adoption. Changes were also observed in the mortality of lactating piglets by reducing deaths by 12% and in the fattening area by up to 5%, the farrowing's interval was shortened by 32 days, with the obtained swine's from AI and the adequate management replacements females, was increased the first weight breeding to 112.9 kg, the daily weight gain increased by 30.7 % (from 450 g to 650 g), the finished pigs achieved weights between 119.9 kg, at the age means of 187.7 days, with these results the cost/benefit ratio improved from 1:1.1 to 1:1.28, which indicated that for each dollar invested, the producer recovered one dollar and twenty-eight cents. All this data collected with the use of records, in addition to the pig farmer's education on technologies, has relevance for the adoption process. In any technology transfer process, it must be considered that the producer's learning is based on his previous experience, the willingness to learn and the inclinations he shows to learn to solve his problems, because this is how he is motivated to constantly learn. It is also important to mention that 90% of the UPs used where family-owned (backyard production) with limited use of technologies. One of the characteristics of this production system was self-employment with the use of family labor. This system is relevant, and is part of the culture of rural areas; in addition, the system is a source of self-consumption and they market their products locally, constituting a system of savings and additional income [9]. However, at the end of the work, the adoption of technologies by the UPs became more profitable and began to function as a small family business that provided them with better economic remuneration.The results of the study are not intended to establish a single management model applicable to all pig farms in the country or the world, because they have different problems and in diverse environments. Pig production has differences in reproductive, productive and economic efficiency parameters, which makes it difficult to extrapolate results [16]. The main limitations identified in the process were investment capacity, access to the inputs required for the implementation of some technologies, and the level of education of each producer. These limitations are probably not a problem for the development of the swine production sector in other areas of the country where there is a more homogeneous level of development. In general, the recommendation is to validate the technologies applied in each production unit, given that many developed technologies are exclusive to intensive systems and may not be adaptable to other production systems [17]. In this study the local application of the data was validated through continuous longitudinal evaluation (three years) of the same production units before and after the adoption of the technologies. The external applicability of the data should be considered given that pig production systems in Mexico are heterogeneous and the technologies evaluated correspond to low-cost practices and broad applicability to family production systems in tropical regions [9], so the results can constitute a frame of reference for production units with similar characteristics. The authors to Frontier in animal science to carry out the first publication of data reports. Likewise, we authorize for indefinite time its reproduction, publication, communication and public transmission in any form or means worldwide. We approve the contents of the text in their totality, as well as the number and order of appearance of the authors.