No abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate factors that might influence the length of productive life in Swedish crossbred (Landrace x Yorkshire) sows. The data set consisted of 20,310 sows farrowing between 2001 and 2004 in 21 commercial piglet-producing herds. Productive life (PL) was defined as the number of days between first farrowing and removal or termination of data collection. In addition to the overall risk analysis of PL, another 4 longevity traits were analyzed (competing risk analyses): reproductive disorder-determined length of PL (RPL), udder problem-determined length of PL (UPL), lameness-determined length of PL (LPL), and mortality-determined length of PL (MPL). Analyses were performed by using survival analysis, applying a Weibull model with 6 time-dependent and 1 time-independent variable (age at first farrowing). The factor with the largest contribution to the likelihood function for PL was days after farrowing, followed by parity, the herd x year combination, the total number of piglets born, days between weaning and next farrowing, farrowing month, and age at first farrowing. For all 4 competing risk traits, the factors contributing most to the likelihood function were days after farrowing, the herd x year combination, and parity, with a varied order between traits. The hazard for removal was greatest 30 to 40 d after farrowing (after weaning) for PL, UPL, and LPL (P < 0.001). However, for MPL the hazard was greatest just after farrowing (0 to 10 d), and for RPL the hazard peaked at 70 to 100 d after farrowing. The hazard for removal was, compared with parity 1, less in parities 2 to 7 and greater from parity 8 for PL (P < 0.001). The hazard was greatest in parity 1 (P < 0.01) for RPL, UPL, and LPL, whereas for MPL the hazard increased with greater parity number and was markedly greater from parity 9 (P < 0.001). Sows with litters of 9 piglets or less had a greater hazard for removal than sows with litters of 12 to 13 piglets (P < 0.001). Intervals between 120 and 122 d from weaning to the next farrowing showed the lowest hazard for removal (P < 0.001). The influence of farrowing month displayed no clear pattern for PL. Sows of 14 mo or older at their first farrowing had a 20% greater hazard for removal than younger sows (P < 0.001). The hazard for removal was greater for smaller litters in all parities but was more accentuated in greater parities. Overall, days after farrowing was the main risk factor for sow removal. Removal hazard was greatest shortly after weaning, and this peak increased with greater parity number.

Background: The aim of this study was to get information on post mortem diagnoses of sows found dead or euthanised and to understand the diagnoses aetiology (causative background). Moreover, the study was to evaluate the association between the clinical symptoms observed on farm and post mortem findings.

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for longevity from Swedish crossbred sows to investigate the possibilities of selecting for this trait. Data were collected from 16 commercial piglet-producing herds, on crossbred (Landrace 3 Yorkshire) sows farrowing in the period 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2004. The data set with records on 10 373 sows was split into two sets according to the breed of the sire, i.e. Landrace sires (LS) or Yorkshire sires (YS). Removal hazard during productive life (PL) was analysed with survival analysis, using a sire model. Stayability from first to second litter (STAY12), stayability from first to third litter (STAY13), length of productive life (LPL) and lifetime production (LTP) were analysed with linear models, using an animal model. Females after the worst sire had 1.7 times higher (progeny of LS) and 2.4 times higher (progeny of YS) risk of removal than females after the best sire. Heritability for PL was estimated at 0.06 (LS) and 0.12 (YS). The heritabilities for the linear longevity traits ranged from 0.03 to 0.08. Genetic correlations between the four linear longevity traits were all high and positive (0.6 to 1.0), as were the phenotypic correlations (0.5 to 0.8). The correlations (Spearman rank) between the sire's estimated breeding values for all the five longevity traits were all significant (P , 0.001) and moderate to strong in both data sets. Estimated breeding value (EBV) correlations between the five longevity traits and traits included in the present Swedish breeding evaluation (Quality Genetics (QG)) were significant in a few cases. Significant and favourable EBV correlations were found between age at first farrowing and both STAY12 and STAY13 (20.20 and 20.31), as well as between litter weight at 3 weeks and LPL and LTP (0.13 to 0.20). Significant and unfavourable EBV correlations were found between age at 100 kg and STAY12 (0.32), as well as between the exterior conformation score from testing station and PL (20.20). The level of the estimated heritabilities for longevity indicates that genetic improvement of sow longevity would be possible. However, overall, there was no strong indirect selection for sow longevity with the current Swedish breeding evaluation (QG).

BackgroundSows’ ability to produce an excessive amount of piglets has shaped modern piglet production and there has been a steady increase in litter size during the last decades. This development has caused some negative side-effects, such as an increase in the proportion of stillborn piglets, a decrease in the proportion of weaned piglets and a larger variation in quality of piglets. Swedish commercial piglet producing herds have, like other countries with high production levels, high piglet mortality and high annual removal rate of gilts and sow. These problems seem to have increased during the same period that litter sizes have increased. Therefore present study aim to investigate whether there is an association between litter sizes and sow stayability.ResultsThe probability to produce ≥4 litters during a lifetime was significantly lower for sows giving birth to ≤8, 15 and ≥17 piglets in total in their first parity litter compared to sows giving birth to 13 piglets. Except for the group of sows having a small (≤11 piglets born in total) first parity litter size in combination with a medium (12–14 piglets born in total) second parity litter size, all other groups were significantly associated with an impaired ability to stay ≥4 litters compared to sows having a medium both first and second parity litter size. There were differences in removal reason between sows having small, medium or large first parities litter sizes.ConclusionsAssociations between litter sizes in low parities and sow stayability were found. Our results indicate that aiming for keeping sows giving birth to a medium-sized litter, with approximately 12–14 piglets born in total may improve sows stayability and decrease the risk of unplanned removal. This should be considered when planning breeding strategy and annual removal in Swedish commercial piglets producing herds.