Profert

Profert

The holistic approach to pig production

Zarkos-Smith Associates

 

What Is Profert?

 

UK farms currently average 11.1 live born piglets per litter and achieve farrowing percentages of 83%: this means that there are still significant
opportunities for farms to increase productivity.

There are many factors that can improve fertility — including farm environment, layout of the
mating centre etc — but a key issue is nutrition, particularly during the important five days
between weaning and mating.

Currently the two feeds available for this vital
period in the fertility cycle — lactation and
gestation feeds — each have their own
disadvantages.

Profert has been developed as a complementary feed to the gestation diet to boost fertility.

Having proved successful in Continental Europe,
Profert is now available in the UK from Zarkos-Smith Associates.

 

Why Use Profert?

 

The advantages of Profert are dramatic:

 

¨ It boosts insulin levels, which stimulates the reproductive hormones that increase both the return-to-oestrus rate after weaning and the number of live born piglets.

¨ Its special acidification mixture lowers urinal pH levels, decreasing the infection pressure around mating. This reduces the risk of reproductive problems and leads to raised farrowing percentages.

¨ Recent research by Wageningen University shows that the use of complementary feeds in the mating centre improve birth weight and within litter variation.

 

All of which means increased farm productivity!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Is Profert Used?

 

Firstly, it is important to maximise feed intake on all days after weaning, making sure that the troughs are cleaned out every day so that the feed stays fresh.

The following programme is recommended:

 

¨ On the day of weaning:

¨ In the morning, 0.5kg of lactation feed + 1kg Profert.

¨ In the evening, ad lib gestation feed.

¨ Until mating:

¨ 0.5kg Profert per day

¨ Ad lib gestation feed

¨ After mating:

¨ Gestation feed according to schedule

 

 

One of the advantages of using gestation feed as a basic diet is that — unlike lactation feed — it does not promote milk production post weaning. 

Research studies have found that stopping feeding in this vital period delays heat and slows down the development of the ova.  Using Profert with the gestation feed immediately post weaning stimulates egg development and survival rates, and leads to an earlier heat, boosting liveborn rates and farrowing percentages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cost Benefits Of Using Profert

 

This table shows that using Profert in combination with a gestation feed — instead of relying on a lactation feed only — is an investment which results in a significant improvement in farm profitability.

 

To request more information about Profert, click here.

Source: Provimi Field Research

Source: Topigs

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* Costs correct at February 2010