System and method of enhancing swine reproduction

• US 10,206,378 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Once Innovations Inc. (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Grajcar, Zdenko, Delabbio, Juliette
• Primary Examiner(s): Abbott-Lewis, Yvonne R
• Application Number:
  US15/108,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20160316727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 119720, 119174
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/02 Pigsties; Dog-kennels; Rabbit-hutches or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 67/02 Breeding vertebrates

Abstract

A method of increasing the probability of breeding swine via a lighting system with a programmable timing device. The lighting system is programmed to present differing photoperiods such that the amount of light observed by a swine every day or week gradually decreases, mimicking a seasonal change, typically from summer to fall. As a result, swine psychologically and physiologically believe that seasons are changing resulting in increased probability of breeding for the swine.

Claims

1. A method of increasing the probability of breeding swine, steps comprising:

providing a lighting system having a programmable timing device;

providing with the lighting system predetermined periods of light and dark for the swine every twenty four hours for a first pre-determined amount of time;

after the first pre-determined amount of time providing predetermined periods of light and dark for the swine every twenty four hours during a second pre-determined amount of time;

wherein the predetermined periods of light and dark for the swine during the second pre-determined amount of time comprises a greater amount of dark for the swine and less light than the first pre-determined amount of time;

after the second pre-determined amount of time providing predetermined periods of light and dark for the swine every twenty four hours during a third pre-determined amount of time;

wherein the predetermined periods of light and dark for the swine during the third pre-determined amount of time comprises a greater amount of dark for the swine and less light than the second pre-determined amount of time to increase the probability of breeding swine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-determined periods of light and dark during the first pre-determined amount of time is 16 hours of light and 8 hours of dark and the pre-determined periods of light and dark during the third pre-determined amount of time is 8 hours of light and 16 hours of dark.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the period of dark for the swine is provided by a wavelength of light of between 620 nm-750 nm.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first pre-determined amount of time is one week.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second pre-determined amount of time is one week.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-determined periods of light and dark during the second predetermined amount of time includes fourteen hours of white light and ten hours of red light.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-determined periods of light and dark during the third predetermined amount of time includes twelve hours of white light and twelve hours of red light.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-determined period alight is reduced by one hour and the pre-determined period of dark is increased by one hour during the second pre-determined amount of time.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-determined periods of light and dark during the first pre-determined amount of time is fourteen hours of light and ten hours of dark and the pre-determined period of light is reduced by one hour and the pre-determined period of dark is increased by one hour during the second pre-determined amount of time.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first pre-determined amount of time is one week and the pre-determined period of light is reduced by one hour and the pre-determined period of dark is increased by one hour during the second pre-determined amount of time and each subsequent pre-determined one-week amount of time over the course of seven weeks.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein an eighth pre-determined amount of time is one week and the pre-determined period of light is increased by one hour and the pre-determined period of dark is decreased by one hour during a ninth pre-determined amount of time and each subsequent pre-determined one-week amount of time over the course of seven weeks.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

after the third pre-determined amount of time, providing predetermined periods of light and dark for the swine every twenty-four hours during a next predetermined amount of time;

wherein the predetermined periods of light and dark for the swine during the next pre- determined amount of time comprises a greater amount of light for the swine and less dark than during the third predetermined amount of time.