PHOTO: DARCY MAULSBY


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• Piglets are healthy and full-bellied (with lactating sows); and • Lactating sow softly grunts when nursing.


Routine checks at three levels Ensuring proper sow welfare includes routine checks at three levels, Lasco said, from the barn level to the breed group level to the individual sow level.


The PigEasy booth at WPX 2021.


• Healthy skin tone; • Sow rises to eat; • Sows have a temperature of 38.6–39.4°C. “Taking each sow’s temperature takes time, but it can save time in the long run,” Lasco said. “It can also ensure accurate health assessments and offer peace of mind.” • Individual teats are soft and express milk easily (for lactating sows);


List of world’s largest pork producers revealed


The impact of China on global pork production and demand is undeniable, es- pecially since the 2021 World Mega Producer list clearly indicates the rise of China, with an increase of almost 5 million sows. In total six Chinese companies were among the top-10 producers on the World Mega Producer list, a comprehensive listing of the world’s largest producers. Specifically, these companies have more than 100,000 sows. The massive investment ($ 60 billion US) to rebuild China’s swine industry devas- tated by African Swine Fever can be seen in multiple company expansions, not- ed breeding company Genesus. The company reported that the China sow numbers were from late 2020, prior to the second wave of African Swine Fever. Genesus identified 40 World Mega Producers this year that together manage 16.5 million sows. “This is a testament to these companies’ faith in the future and profitability of pork consumption,” noted Jim Long, president-CEO of Genesus, which showcased this list during the 2021 World Pork Expo. Outside of China, there was almost no change in sow numbers of the World Mega Producers, a reflection of the pork industry’s financial condition related to Covid-19 pandemic issues of 2020, Genesus noted. Since the 1960s, pork producers have seen continuous growth in global pork pro- duction. The world’s expanding population and growing income levels in various countries have fueled additional pork production and consumption. Current trends indicate that consolidation will continue to drive the global pork industry. For producers that are not World Mega Producers, the field can be lev- elled by utilising available technology, whether it be nutrition, genetics, health, equipment or other resources, Long said. “The future for the world’s pork industry is bright.”


24 ▶ PIG PROGRESS | Volume 37, No. 5/6, 2021


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Checklist for daily barn walk-throughs • Biosecurity measures; • Barn temperature and air quality; • General hygiene and cleanliness;


• Manure pit levels; • Feed and water lines should be working properly; • Fans, curtains, heaters and control settings need inspection; and


• Needed repairs around the barn should be spotted.


Checklist when observing breed groups • Need for repair to or adjustment of feeders or wa- terers for the specific breed group;


• Water quality, water lines and stations to make sure things are working properly; • Coughing and sneezing among the animals in each group; • Appropriate swine size and development for the stage of gestation or lactation.


Checklist at the individual sow level Lasco said it is pivotal to make time to observe each sow from head to tail for at least one to two sec- onds. It is good to:


• Compare each sow to the ideal, healthy sow. Sows should be calm and alert. They should exhibit a good appetite and have soft udders with functional teats that express milk easi- ly. Sows should also allow piglets to nurse. Sows displaying abnormal behaviour may seem agitated, have laboured “open mouth” breathing, go off feed or not allow piglets to nurse. • Watch the way each sow is lying and assess the overall comfort level of each sow. • Note which sows are slow to rise or do not move when approached. • Look for normal sow stools on the floor. Normal, healthy sows excrete formed, soft stools and pale to light yellow urine. Abnormal signs include diarrhoea, constipation or bloody stools; and dark, bloody or cloudy urine. In all cases, caregivers need to be calm and sensitive to the needs of the animals. It’s imperative to follow the veterinari- an’s treatment protocols and recommendations. Also, careful records should be kept, Lasco concluded.


Next year’s edition of WPX will be held 8–10 June 2022, again at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, IA, United States.


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