The productive lifetime of sows on two farms from the aspect of reasons for culling

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of the productive lifetime (plT) of sows kept on two farms, from the aspect of reasons for culling. The study was based on data from animals from two breeding farms in hungary, using the data of 3493 crossbred dutch large white and dutch landrace sows (dlw × DL) between their first farrowing until the time of culling (2006 and 2012). For six years, the annual culling rate for both farms averaged 45%. The most frequent reasons for removal on both farms were reproductive problems (40%, 51%), leg problems (29%, 23%) and mortality (19%, 15%). There was a significant difference between the distributions of reasons for culling on the two farms (χ 2 =41.7, P≤0.001). The distributions of reasons for culling differed in three periods of sow breeding (Farm A: χ 2 =264.7, P≤0.001; Farm B: χ 2 =511.1, P≤0.001). The percentage of main removal reasons decreased, whereas the frequency of culling due to age increased. Using survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model), significant differences were identified between the PLT of sows culled due to reproductive problems (P≤0.001), leg problems (P≤0.001) and old age (P≤0.001). Reproductive problems (HR: 1.34, P≤0.001) and leg problems (HR: 1.39, P≤0.001) were higher and culling due to old age (HR: 0.44, P≤0.001) was lower on Farm A compared to Farm B. There were no significant differences between the two farms in terms of mortality (HR: 0.99, P=0.923). Overall, the results can be useful for breeders of crossbred (dlw × DL) sow populations in more accurately defining their culling systems.

A Review of Swine Transportation Research on Priority Welfare Issues: A Canadian Perspective

“…However, pigs at other stages of production may need special considerations during transport, due to their physiological conditions, health status, or age (21). For example, sows are most likely to be culled due to lameness or failure to rebreed (22, 23), and may have difficulties walking, and loading onto the truck. Many cull sows also have poor body condition (24), whereas obesity has been indicated as the main reason for culling boars (25) along with feet and leg issues (26).…”

Sow mortality is associated with meat inspection findings

“…For example, a culling percentage of 51% and mortality of 9% was reported in the U.S.A. (Mote et al, 2009). In Hungary, the corresponding figures were 45% and 16% (Balogh et al, 2015). In addition, we were able to obtain data only from volunteer herds, not from randomly selected herds, and this may have led to selection of better managed herds.…”

Transport Fitness of Cull Sows and Boars: A Comparison of Different Guidelines on Fitness for Transport

“…This may have contributed to a lack of estrus expression by gilts. Another survey at two farms in Hungary indicated that 40% of the culls were due to leg problems and 51% were due to reproductive problems [16]. …”

“…Sows get culled for being lame or failing to rebreed [15,16]. Body condition is not usually used as a reason for culling but sows may enter the transportation and marketing channels that have poor body condition.…”