Dr. Thomas Sønderby Bruun shared his perspective on how we should approach the management of hyper-prolific sows. His presentation combines insights from his own extensive research with a thorough review of the scientific literature. He offers a valuable perspective on current practices and, more importantly, on where the industry needs to go in order to fully unlock the potential of our animals.

Dr. Carine Vier and Dr. Hyatt Frobose addressed the concept of lactational efficiency. Together, they have challenged long-held assumptions about feed intake and sow body composition changes during lactation. They also have developed new ways to understand the differences between lactating sows in a herd. For the first time, this significant data (developed in collaboration with Brenneman Pork in the United States) was presented. Their work will push us to reconsider current practices and explore lactational efficiency in a model that could change the way we think about sow and gilt nutrition.

How can you properly assess the peripartum period to ensure a true transition for your animals? What are the real impacts of these strategies? And most importantly, what are the effects of the transition? 

Dr. Cook shared his perspective on the use of multiple diets in modern sow farms. Drawing from his years of experience in nutrition and close work with producers, he has evaluated the impact of adding a second feed line at various stages of production. He presented his insights on where this approach can be most beneficial and how it may shape the way farms manage feeding in the future.

Dr. Gonzalez-Bulnes discussed supplementation in early gestation. His vision is clear: sows spend more than half the year in gestation, yet most of our actions to improve piglet weight focus on lactation. So how can we shift that perspective and influence litter weight through gestation itself? Based on his research, he demonstrated the impact that supplementing sows during this critical stage has on both piglets and the placenta.

Dr. Pope comes from the poultry industry. During his presentation, he shared the precision feeding trials he has conducted in broiler operations. Known for his hands-on and practical approach, he has been directly involved in multiple trials and the results are truly impressive.

Mr. Devin Goehring presented his work on precision feeding in growing pigs and shared the numerous trials he has conducted in commercial finishing barns. In these trial protocols, rather than using feed blending in these commercial settings, he grouped animals by weight. A strategy that helped reduce both overfeeding and underfeeding, while maintaining performance.

Bringing an economic perspective, Mr. Mulberry explored the cost of variability in our herds. From the slaughterhouse back to the farrowing room, he revealed just how much variability exists in herds across the globe and how it impacts producers, often without them even realizing it. He also showed the significant financial consequences of this variability, and why it is so important to address and understand them.