Reproductive lifetime of sows in relation to economy of production

Abstract

In pig production substantial economic loss is involved in early culling of sows, due to low fertility, leg problems, etc. Data on 15 000 services from 85 commercial pig farms were analysed to quantify the importance of these losses. From the average cost price per weaner per litter and cumulative, a “sow remainder productive life value” has been calculated, indicating the economic loss when a sow has to be culled too early. Calculations for farms with low, average and high culling rates show substantial differences in economic results.