The Rural Voice, 1991-06, Page 25those with the most control over
temperature. Too much fluctuation in
temperature can cause pneumonia and
scow -s.
Dr. McNaughton is a firm believer
in minimal disease herds. "It is one of
the biggest factors affecting profit-
ability," she says. These caesarian
section derived herds go to market
sooner, she says, at 150 to 160 days,
compared to the Ontario average of
200 to 220 days. "That's 100 pounds
less feed per pig," says Dr. Mc-
Naughton. Medication costs are also
down because the pigs are healthier.
She says the people she knows that
have switched to minimal disease
herds are pleased with the results.
"They say, 'we like working with pigs
again. We're not needling all the
time."'
Aside from switching to a minimal
disease herd, farmers need to be aware
of herd health status when buying
replacement stock. "Be careful," she
says.
As well, herds that get the highest
productivity belong to people that like
their sows. "You can see it in the
barns. They're gentle with the sows.
They stop to scratch a sow's ear.
Those farms really pump the numbers
out. Everyone's trying to figure out
the secret. It's all in how you treat
your sows," she says.
Part of her job is to be a contact
person for swine farmers who, in
many cases, are isolated from input.
They have closed herds and don't
want other farmers in their barns.
They don't have access to each other's
facilities to leam and compare.
For farmers on her program that
are expanding, she has arranged tours
of other facrilities. They take along
disposable coveralls, then leave them
behind. "It's worked out well," she
says.
In 1990, as recipient of the Ontario
Pork Congress Fellowship, she went
to Scandinavia to study their swine
industry.
"Food prices in Sweden are double
what they are here," she says. "I agree
with the idea of cheap food, but I
don't think farmers should be the ones
to pay for it."
"It was a real education," says Dr.
McNaughton of her three week study
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Q.S. Rep
(519) 887-9884
JUNE 1991 21