By-Parity Nonproductive Days and Mating and Culling Measurements of Female Pigs in Commercial Breeding Herds

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The objectives of this study were to determine by-parity nonproductive female days (NPD or NPDs) and mating and culling measurements, to determine correlations between by-parity NPDs, mating and culling measurements and herd productivity measurements, and to compare by-parity NPDs between three herd groups (105 herds) with differing reproductive productivities. NPD was defined as the number of days when mated females were neither gestating nor lactating. Correlation analysis and mixed-effects models were performed. On the basis of the 25th and 75th percentiles of pigs weaned per mated female per year, three herd groups were formed: high-, intermediate-, and low-performing herds. The mean NPD of 105 breeding herds (mean ± SEM) was 52.7 ± 1.6 days. The NPDs in parities 1, 6 and ≥ 7 were higher than those in parities 0, 2, 3 and 4 (P<0.05). High-performing herds had a higher farrowing percentage and lower percentage of reserviced females than low-performing herds (P<0.05). Lower by-parity NPDs were correlated with lower percentages of reserviced females, higher farrowing percentages and lower culling rates from parities 1 to 5 (P<0.05). High-performing herds had NPDs that were > 25 days lower in parities 0 to 3 than low-performing herds (P<0.05). High-performing herds had lower culling rates in parities 2 to 5 and higher culling rates in parities 6 and ≥ 7 than low-performing herds (P<0.05). The present study indicates that monitoring the by-parity NPD and mating and culling measurements is a good tool for improvement of herd productivity.

Impact of Mated Female Nonproductive Days in Breeding Herd after Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Outbreak

“…The impact of PEDV on NPDs in gilts and sows may be controlled or improved by the following methods: i) reducing the abortion rate (performance of the feedback immunization must be avoided when the gilts and sows are in their first month of pregnancy [ 15 ]), ii) decreasing lactation length [ 25 ], iii) decreasing the percentage of gilts in the breeding herd inventory [ 25 ], iv) decreasing the female culling rate [ 25 – 27 ] and v) increasing the percentage of multiple matings [ 25 – 27 ]. The pig owners did not alter the gilt and sow management, including lactation length (25.6 days vs. 25.7 days)( Table 1 ), percentage of multiple matings (99.7% vs. 98.7%)( Table 1 ), parity of culled sows (Sow culling due to age was planned to occur after the sixth parity), and percentage gilts in the breeding-female inventory (gilt pool: 1019 vs. 971), etc.…”

The impact of the interval between the last meal and the onset of farrowing on the duration of farrowing, stillbirth rates, and colostrum production in highly productive sows in a tropical climate

“…With the advent of modern genetic sows, the production goal in swine breeding herds has risen to achieve 30–40 pigs weaned per sow per year [ 12 , 24 ]. This increase in target is driven by the larger litter sizes observed in these genetically advanced sows [ 25 , 35 ].…”

“…The impact of the interval between the last meal and the onset of farrowing on the duration of farrowing, stillbirth rates, and colostrum production in highly productive sows in a tropical climate Tip-apa AKKHAPHANA 1) , Kritchaya NGANSUCHARIT 1) , Srisuda SRISURACH 1) , Preechaphon TAECHAMAETEEKUL 1) , Yosua Kristian ADI 1) and Padet TUMMARUK 1,2) * With the advent of modern genetic sows, the production goal in swine breeding herds has risen to achieve 30-40 pigs weaned per sow per year [12,24]. This increase in target is driven by the larger litter sizes observed in these genetically advanced sows [25,35].…”