FAQ
Here are answers to the most frequently-asked questions
1) Can PIGWATCH affect the sow's "normal" routine?
Absolutely NOT! PIGWATCH is basically a hermetic aluminium bar containing the electronics that has to be fixed onto the heat monitoring crate. It is entirely non-intrusive and has absolutely no effect on the animal's normal behaviour.
2) How does PIGWATCH work?
PIGWATCH establishes the sow's state of heat by observing the animal's movements round the clock. Oestrus manifests itself with stress behaviour on the part of the animal, namely more accentuated movements. Since the animal is enclosed in a crate, it can only assume an erect or sitting position. PIGWATCH records the animal's erect and sitting times and makes a complex calculation to determine the precise state of heat.
3) How many PIGWATCH devices are required?
It depends on the type of weaning:
- For farms using the "Classic" weaning system, i.e. a weekly weaning cycle, it is enough to have 5-6% of PIGWATCH devices compared to the total number of sows (e.g. about 30 for 500 sows).
- For farms using the "Band" system, merely multiply the 6% by the weaning cycle in weeks (e.g. if a farm weans every two weeks, the number of devices required is 2x6%=12%; one weaning every 3 weeks is 3x6%=18% and so on).
4) What are the advantages of using PIGWATCH?
There are several important advantages due to accuracy in determining the state of heat and the ovulation area.
- Increased number of piglets born (current data indicate at least 1 more piglet per litter). This is due to the fact that PIGWATCH can determine the precise ovulation area and the exact moment the eggs are ready to receive the seed, and hence the best time for insemination; in other words, you get more fertilized eggs by inseminating when there are more eggs ready to receive the seed!
- Increased number of sows "brought to delivery", in other words, fewer heat returns (data from the first installations show you can achieve 92% of sows successfully brought to delivery.
- Reduced number of inseminations per sow. A drop from an average of 2.7 to 1.3-1.5.
- Operators no longer require to observe oestrus. They merely need to wait until PIGWATCH indicates the state of heat and insemination request.
5) How does heat monitoring change with PIGWATCH?
It's now very easy! The one or two observations carried out during the operator's shift are now replaced by continuous monitoring round the clock. It is important to note that man's subjective monitoring, even by an expert, has been replaced by objective monitoring, giving an entirely objective result!
Remember that sows are not robots – they, too, are living beings, so no two are the same. Even an expert operator has no definite rule for determining the EXACT state of heat, or even ovulation which is even more complex. So it is clear that man CAN be wrong, especially if we consider that observations are made AT MOST TWICE A DAY!
6) With PIGWATCH, how do you know when to inseminate?
Pigwatch displays two messages, depending on whether insemination is planned DURING or OUTSIDE the shift.
- During the shift: the light on the bar FLASHES GREEN;
- Outside the shift: the light on the bar FLASHES RED or FLASHES GREEN, depending on whether there is more chance of success inseminating before the end of the shift or at the start of the next shift, respectively.
There is a third case, much rarer than the others, in which the light flashes RED and GREEN alternately. This is equivalent to the message "Sow X is behaving unusually – please go and check yourself!" If the farmer feels the sow should be inseminated, PIGWATCH records the decision, continues processing. If, within a set time, the farmer has not decided to inseminate, PIGWATCH records the decision, considers the situation so far as "non-heat" and resumes data processing.
7) Is PIGWATCH suitable for use with young sows?
Definitely yes, but in such cases monitoring may well last more than the average 7 days.
8) Is it still necessary to use the boar for heat monitoring?
We definitely suggest using boar exposure during insemination to stimulate sows, which is well known in the swine industry to help increase fertility performance and number of born piglets, but we consider it entirely unnecessary for heat analysis as such, though it is also well known and accepted in the field of pig husbandry, that post-weaning boar exposure sensibly reduces weaning/mating interval and triggers sow immobility; as a matter of fact, it is known that without boar exposure, 20% to 30% of sows and 50% to 60% of gilts will not show any signs of immobility.
1) Can PIGWATCH affect the sow's "normal" routine?
Absolutely NOT! PIGWATCH is basically a hermetic aluminium bar containing the electronics that has to be fixed onto the heat monitoring crate. It is entirely non-intrusive and has absolutely no effect on the animal's normal behaviour.
2) How does PIGWATCH work?
PIGWATCH establishes the sow's state of heat by observing the animal's movements round the clock. Oestrus manifests itself with stress behaviour on the part of the animal, namely more accentuated movements. Since the animal is enclosed in a crate, it can only assume an erect or sitting position. PIGWATCH records the animal's erect and sitting times and makes a complex calculation to determine the precise state of heat.
3) How many PIGWATCH devices are required?
It depends on the type of weaning:
- For farms using the "Classic" weaning system, i.e. a weekly weaning cycle, it is enough to have 5-6% of PIGWATCH devices compared to the total number of sows (e.g. about 30 for 500 sows).
- For farms using the "Band" system, merely multiply the 6% by the weaning cycle in weeks (e.g. if a farm weans every two weeks, the number of devices required is 2x6%=12%; one weaning every 3 weeks is 3x6%=18% and so on).
4) What are the advantages of using PIGWATCH?
There are several important advantages due to accuracy in determining the state of heat and the ovulation area.
- Increased number of piglets born (current data indicate at least 1 more piglet per litter). This is due to the fact that PIGWATCH can determine the precise ovulation area and the exact moment the eggs are ready to receive the seed, and hence the best time for insemination; in other words, you get more fertilized eggs by inseminating when there are more eggs ready to receive the seed!
- Increased number of sows "brought to delivery", in other words, fewer heat returns (data from the first installations show you can achieve 92% of sows successfully brought to delivery.
- Reduced number of inseminations per sow. A drop from an average of 2.7 to 1.3-1.5.
- Operators no longer require to observe oestrus. They merely need to wait until PIGWATCH indicates the state of heat and insemination request.
5) How does heat monitoring change with PIGWATCH?
It's now very easy! The one or two observations carried out during the operator's shift are now replaced by continuous monitoring round the clock. It is important to note that man's subjective monitoring, even by an expert, has been replaced by objective monitoring, giving an entirely objective result!
Remember that sows are not robots – they, too, are living beings, so no two are the same. Even an expert operator has no definite rule for determining the EXACT state of heat, or even ovulation which is even more complex. So it is clear that man CAN be wrong, especially if we consider that observations are made AT MOST TWICE A DAY!
6) With PIGWATCH, how do you know when to inseminate?
Pigwatch displays two messages, depending on whether insemination is planned DURING or OUTSIDE the shift.
- During the shift: the light on the bar FLASHES GREEN;
- Outside the shift: the light on the bar FLASHES RED or FLASHES GREEN, depending on whether there is more chance of success inseminating before the end of the shift or at the start of the next shift, respectively.
There is a third case, much rarer than the others, in which the light flashes RED and GREEN alternately. This is equivalent to the message "Sow X is behaving unusually – please go and check yourself!" If the farmer feels the sow should be inseminated, PIGWATCH records the decision, continues processing. If, within a set time, the farmer has not decided to inseminate, PIGWATCH records the decision, considers the situation so far as "non-heat" and resumes data processing.
7) Is PIGWATCH suitable for use with young sows?
Definitely yes, but in such cases monitoring may well last more than the average 7 days.
8) Is it still necessary to use the boar for heat monitoring?
We definitely suggest using boar exposure during insemination to stimulate sows, which is well known in the swine industry to help increase fertility performance and number of born piglets, but we consider it entirely unnecessary for heat analysis as such, though it is also well known and accepted in the field of pig husbandry, that post-weaning boar exposure sensibly reduces weaning/mating interval and triggers sow immobility; as a matter of fact, it is known that without boar exposure, 20% to 30% of sows and 50% to 60% of gilts will not show any signs of immobility.