The Impact of Batch Farrowing Systems on Managing Boar Stud Operations

The primary value contribution of boar studs to the entire production system is the ability to deliver genetically superior, cost effective doses of semen in a biosecure manner. In order to drive genetic progress, boar studs must operate inventories tightly and efficiently. The impact of how boar studs are managed in light of batch farrowing is largely related to the proportion of the mated inventory utilizing this production strategy. With batch farrowing systems, boar studs are forced to maintain a subset of the population that does not produce semen on a routine basis. Maintenance of these boars increases operating cost of production by $200 per boar when not in use. Operating costs include items such as animal health, feed, labor and royalties. During periods of seasonal infertility boar studs tend to increase inventory because of amplified ejaculate discard rates. Couple this with additional inventory needed for batch farrowing and efficiencies decline further. Semen quality, including handling and temperature management, become even more crucial in batch farrowing systems. The ability of the stud to produce doses within an acceptable range of sperm per dose and identifying abnormalities during processing has an impact on sow fertility. How semen is handled and the fluctuation in temperature that the semen is subjected to during transport and at the sow farm influence shelf-life and viability. The importance of semen quality is magnified given the increased proportion of sows in a batch wean group. On the other hand, fewer semen deliveries helps mitigate disease risk at the sow farm. Also, depending on the batch strategy, if farms of equal size can develop a plan to rotate the batch then no efficiency is lost at the boar stud. Prior to transitioning to batch farrowing, a commercial production system should evaluate whether the advantages to the sow farm (i.e. health, transport costs) off-set the increased cost of production at the boar stud.