EXAM 3: sow mortality and culling Flashcards
average sow mortality
7-8%
number of breeding females that died or was euthanized throughout the year divided by the total sow population
sow mortality
replacement cost can account for ___________/sow death
$400-500
cost associated with sow mortality
replacement cost
opportunity cost (sow died when preg)
worker morale
how many parities does a sow need to have in order to make her money back
4
what are the most common causes of sow mortality
lameness
season
parity
stillbirths
backfat
gastric ulcers
how does lameness effect sow mortality
poor structured/ lame sows= higher mortality
how does season effect sow mortality
summer months= higher mortality
how does parity effect sow mortality
first parity (number of times preg) are more at risk of mortality
how does stillbirths effect sow mortality
stillborn pigs may be an indication of a problem with the sow (disease)
sows that give birth to stillborn= higher chance of mortality
how does backfat effect sow mortality
sows that have little to no backfat experience higher mortality rates
BCS 1-2
how does gastric ulcers effect sow mortality
small particle size of cereal grains, pelleting and grain type are predisposing factors for the gastric ulcers
in sows/finishing herd
sow diet is a powder/crumble
reasons for rising sow mortality
labor force
observation skills
farm size
crowding
culling
phenotypic selection
AI
feeding
changes with genetics, nutrition, and predisposition to disease/ animal handling= increased mortality
how does labor force effect sow mortality
little to no training
lack of experience
understaffed
**main reason for rising sow mortality
how does observation skills effect sow mortality
due to limited experience, workers may not recognize that an animal is sick, going lame, or has poor structure or is losing weight until too late