Reproductive Performance, Piglet Mortality and Reproductive Health Problems of Sows in The Ejisu Municipality

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted among commercial pig farmers in the Ejisu Municipality to investigate reproductive performance, piglet mortality, and reproductive health problems on their farms. Questionnaires designed to obtain information on reproductive performance and reproductive health problems were administered to a total of 50 randomly selected pig farmers. Three farms were randomly selected to monitor farrowing and pre-weaning piglet mortality. The farrowing records of a minimum of 10 sows on each farm were taken, and the piglets followed up to the point of weaning by six weeks. Records of piglet mortalities and their causes were retrieved from farm records or post mortem reports. The mean litter size, stillbirth per litter, piglet birth weight (Kg), weaning to estrus interval, and gestation period were 9.5± 1.4, 1.6 ± 0.2, 1.0 ± 0.1, .7±1.0 days, and 115.1± 2.6 days, respectively. The pre-weaning mortality (%) at day 42 was 18.7 and ranged from 7.3-28.3. Within the first two days post farrowing, mechanical crushing (8.9%) of piglets by sows and piglet starvation (7.2%), while diarrhea (2.5%) and piglet anemia (1.5%) accounted for mortalities within the first two weeks of life. Reproductive health problems by frequency of occurrence included mastitis (23%), agalactia (18%), stillbirths (18%), repeat breeders (14%) and dystocia (14%). The study concluded that the reproductive performance of sows was satisfactory, while pre-weaning piglet mortality was high. It is recommended to intensify extension education on the management of piglets after farrowing.

Burdens ofAscarisspp. andCryptosporidiumspp. parasites in farm pigs in Ghana

“…In Ghana, Ascaris lumbricoides has been identified in children at the hospital (Mirisho et al., 2017), school children (Orish et al., 2019), inhabitants of an orphanage (Duedu et al., 2015) and pregnant women (Abaka‐Yawson et al., 2020). Even though there is sparse information on Ascaris infection in livestock, studies have detected this parasite in goats, cattle and pigs (Atawalna et al., 2016; Futagbi et al., 2015; Mensah et al., 2018). In this study, the significant difference between the prevalence of Ascaris infection of the weaners and the boars, sows and piglets, and the sows and weaners could be due to the acquired immunity obtained by both the boars and sows over a consistent period of exposure to the source of infection.…”

Reproductive Health Counseling for Gilt and Sow

“…Reproductive health problems often occur in the field and have an impact on livestock populations. Previous studies show that reproductive health problems are serious problems that need to be addressed in the field (Atawalna et al, 2021). Furthermore, previous research reported that several factors that greatly influence the high and low reproductive rates of livestock include age at puberty, conception rate, calving interval, service period, services per conception, calving rate, and duration of pregnancy (Pohontu et al, 2018;Yusri, 2020) Pig reproductive health problems are a serious problem that farmers need to know about.…”