Sow Turnover Flashcards
Culling rate: % of all sows
53.55%
Death loss average
7.8%
Average parity at culling =
3.8
Sows must reach _____ to realize full economic potential.
4th parity
Why is longevity a concern? Performance differences:
born alive
Litter weaning weight
Grow-finish performance
Why is longevity a concern? 3 other reason
Introduction of new stock
Associated costs
Welfare issues
Voluntary reasons for culling
Litter size and disposition
Involuntary reasons for culling
Lameness and reproductive performance
5 Reasons for Culling
- ) Reproductive performance
- ) Poor performance
- ) Structure/conformation
- ) Disease
- ) Other: age, size, temperment
What is the % culled for reproductive failure?
30-35%
What is the % culled for old age?
15-20%
What is the % culled for performance?
15-20%
What is the % culled for feet/leg problems?
10-15%
What is the % culled for death?
5-10%
What is the % culled for other reasons?
5-10%
What is the % culled for post–farrowing problems?
3-5%
Majority of sows are culled because of _____.
Failure to conceive and failure to exhibit standing heat and abortion
Diet additions can help reproductive problems:
Choline and Folic acid
Choline may result in…
An extra pig born/litter
Folic acid increases…
pigs born alive by 1 pig/litter
Lameness: University of Minnesota estimated that each case of lameness adds…
$180/sow
What increases with lameness and why?
Crushing of young because sows that are lame want to lay down more
Inflammation affects parturitioning of nutrients _____ the immune system and _____ production.
Towards immune system
Away from production
Types of hoof issues (5)
Heel and sole cracks Overgrown heels Uneven toes Wall cracks Overgrown toes
Diet additions to help lameness:
Biotin
Copper, Zinc, Manganese, AA
Biotin decreases _____.
Foot lesions and toe cracks
Copper, Zinc, Manganese and AAs added to diet decrease
Cull rate of gilts and young sows due to lameness and reproductive failure
There is cost associated with sow mortality: Examples
Replacement gilts
Death during gestation = loss of potential pigs
Major causes of sow mortality:
Replacement gilts rushed into breeding
Keeping sows past their prime
Lame sows have _____ risk of dying.
40% increased risk
More sows die during the months of _____ due to _____.
June-September: heat
_____ parity sows are more likely to die.
First
Sows that give birth to _____ have a higher risk of death.
Stillborn pigs
_____ sows have a higher chance of death than properly conditioned sows.
Thin sows
Sow mortality is also affected by:
Herd size and Finely ground grain
Proper body condition =
Consistent reproductive performance
Improper body condition disrupts _____ and occurence of _____.
Endocrine system and occurence of shoulder ulcers
Gilts: Breed at _____ body weight on their _____ estrus.
Breed at 135-150kg body weight on their 2nd and 3rd estrus.
Gilt has the weight maturity to gestate, lactate and rebreed
Body condition score determined by:
Pressure on the ribs, spine and hip bones
BC score range:
1 = thin 5 = fat
Mid-gestation 3 is ideal because it has adequate
Fat to withstand lactation and not too fat to have farrowing difficulties or reduced lactation feed intake
A mid-gestation BC score of 3 will become _____ at the end of lactation.
2.5
