Results of Absolute Rod Trial at Wyandot Pork

US - Results of trial with Absolute AI rods at Wyandot Pork by Ben Zientec, sow herd supervisor.
calendar icon 18 February 2014
clock icon 4 minute read

In February, 2009 a four-week trial was conducted comparing Absolute rods with normal foam tip AI rods. The trial was conducted by breeding the odd tag numbered sows and gilts with the Absolute rod and the even numbered sows with the normal foam tip rod.

Wyandot Pork is a 1,500-sow breed-to-feeder pig unit.

The labour saving with the Absolute rod was 75 per cent compared to normal AI. Trial results showed an 8.4 advantage in farrowing rate. (82.3 versus 90.7 per cent). Litter size comparisons showed an advantage for the Absolute rods of 0.94 live pigs per litter.(11.67 versus 10.73).

Weaned sows showing heat by three and four days post weaning were bred 24 hours after heat was detected. All other sows and gilts were bred following ASIC’s WOI protocols to the letter. Delay five- to six-day animals by 12 hours with an eight-hour repeat, and breed days seven to nine exactly like you would a gilt; immediately after she relaxes back into refractory heat. All animals were bred only twice.

The Absolute rod is easy to use and it is easy to determine if the insemination was done correctly. We believe this rod should change labour and production expectations, said Mr Zientec.

Dr Gene Isler, President of Lean Value Sires was involved in conducting the trial at Wyandot Pork. He emphasized that reproductive trials like this can lead to false conclusions if not conducted properly due to great variation and changes in results from week to week. Therefore, since tag numbers are assigned at random, the trial should be largely unbiased since the odd and even numbered sows and gilts were bred over four weeks strictly by chance.

Also of note are the new procedures needed with the Absolute rod. At heat checking, boars are run in front of the sows. Those showing oestrus are marked for breeding based on ASIC’s WOI protocols. Then about one hour later, after the sows are relaxed, the technician comes back to do the mating on animals that were determined ready to breed the previous day, morning, or evening heat detection.

It is essential that sows do not have a boar present so as to produce no cervical contractions.

In this relaxed state, the cervix can be easily entered and the thin membrane in the tip of the rod is expanded so as to place the semen directly into the uterus. It is easy to determine if the mating was done correctly and seldom does any leakage occur. This appears to be the reason the rod gives the impressive results. As the procedure is worked out it is found that the breeding in this 1500 sow unit will save approximately ½ person in the labour force.

Also the eight per cent advantage in farrowing rate will allow for eight per cent more sows to be housed in the same size facility. This results in 288 more litters per year with 2,888 more pigs raised at a value of $32.00 each. This is worth $92,224 in additional income. Add to this the 0.94 additional pigs per litter for the 3,600 litters and these additional pigs have a value of $108,288 per year. Total net income per year based on these results ($92,224 + $108,288=$200,512 net). This does not include the saving of about ½ person in the labour force of this 1500 sow herd.

We were so impressed with this technology we've decided to become a distributor ourselves, said Mr Zientec.

"Absolute Swine Insemination Co. provides a phenomenal DVD just full of interesting information and new ways of looking breeding; timing protocols, high definition videos, Excel profit spreadsheets and more.

"It is well worth the time reviewing and we will send you one free of charge with your first order...1 800 972 8766."

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