A STUDY OF THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SOW MORTALITY

摘要

The reason for this study is that sow mortality is a real and probably increasing expense on most sow farms. The reported sow mortality rates exceed those historically reported in the literature (1,2). The expense involved in losing a sow, due to either culling or death, can be in three major areas. The first is simply the cost of replacing that animal. In most cases, this will be with a gilt, but when gilts are in short supply, this will mean the retention of a sow that should be culled. If a sow dies during gestation there are also the opportunity costs involved in a shortfall in production of piglets. Increased mortality rates are often also a concern to employees and can affect morale.