Star Performance: Hypor Libra* Delivers Uniform Litters & More

If you could order the perfect sow, what would you ask for? A. More uniform litters B. More full value pigs C. Greater weaning capacity D. All of the above
calendar icon 16 November 2017
clock icon 5 minute read

If you chose “D”, you chose the Hypor Libra*, a new commercial sow backed by the top Landrace genetics and eight years of intensive genetic testing with state-of-the-art technology. You chose a sow capable of producing easily more than 30 piglets per year that reach weaning weight without milk replacers and with minimal cross-fostering. You chose the world’s most prolificient sow – the sum of prolific and efficient – that is well balanced and supports total system profitability by delivering all of the above.

Uniform Litters Breed Success

Producing litters that are uniform in size and weight at birth is vital to successfully raising large numbers of finishers. That’s because litters maintain their size variance throughout the growing period. A large weight difference between the largest and smallest pigs in the litter results in groups of finishers being kept back longer so the small pigs can catch up to market weight.

And if the pigs are being held back, so are your profits.

“Variation in finisher weights is one of the biggest economic struggles for pork producers,” says Hypor Europe General Manager Nicolas Alvarez Hoggan. “An average birth weight of 1,400 g can have a potential weight range per pig of 1,000 g - 2,300 g. This variation leads to a significant difference at finishing.”

How significant? A five percent variation in weight can be a difference of $22,397 (€18,912) for a 1,000head sow operation.

The bottom line is that a more uniform weight at birth gives piglets a great start in life and better performance throughout the growing period. Ask any successful person, and they’ll say a strong start and consistent performance make all the difference.

Full Value Pigs: Why Settle for Less?

Successful people and pigs have another thing in common: They never settle for less.

To develop a sow that produces uniform litters, Hypor continuously measures the birth weights of each individual pig at their nucleus and CCPS units. Unlike average litter weight, individual weights reveal if a litter has a small or large pig and how that will affect the number of full value pigs.

Why is that important? Because piglets with low birth weights are less likely to be rated at full value by slaughterhouses. In fact, for every 0.1 kg decrease in birth weight, the probability of a piglet being full value decreases by 2 per cent and mortality increases by 3 per cent for pre-weaned piglets and 2 per cent for weaned piglets.

By balancing breeding traits for litter size and uniformity, a sow is able to increase survivability without decreasing litter size.

If that’s not the best of both worlds, what is?

Weaning Capacity Critical

Producing large litters is wonderful. But if you can’t raise them, it’s like a field of golden wheat with no one to harvest it. If a sow produces more piglets than she can raise, producers will need more foster sows which results in higher feed and labor costs.

Measuring each pig at birth and again at 14 days, before they start eating feed, tells Hypor if a sow has sufficient milk supply to get piglets off on the right foot (or hoof). In this way, we can maximize both the quantity and quality of pigs born. That means more pork to market and more cash in your pocket.

For those who want only the best for sows and their litters, the Hypor Libra* delivers. Instead of excelling in one area and falling short in the rest, it offers the best combination of all key traits, and producers deserve nothing less.

Because when it comes to achieving more uniform litters, more full value pigs or greater weaning capacity, you shouldn’t have to settle for just one.

Instead, choose all of the above.

Choose the Hypor Libra*.

Hypor is one of the world's leading suppliers of pig genetics. Committed to providing superior genetics that supports profitability in the pork value chain. With its Head Office located in Boxmeer, The Netherlands, Hypor has strategically-located and interconnected breeding centers in North America, Europe and Asia. More information is available at www.hypor.com

Hypor is part of Hendrix Genetics, a leading multi-species breeding company with primary activities in layer-, turkey-, swine-, aquaculture -and traditional poultry breeding. Headquartered in Boxmeer, in The Netherlands, Hendrix Genetics provides expertise and resources to producers in more than 100 countries, with operations and joint ventures in more than 35 countries and more than 2.880 employees worldwide. More information is available at www.hendrix-genetics.com

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