FACTORS AFFECTING MORTALITY IN GROWING AND FINISHING PIGS ON FARROW-TO-FINISH INDUSTRIAL FARMS IN GREECE: I. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND FACILITIES

摘要

Mortality in growing/finishing pigs can be high and the pigs that die represent a considerable investment (1,2,3). The objective of the present survey was to determine weather several management practices, as well as facilities equipment contribute tomortality on farrow-to-finish industrial farms in Greece. A total of 23 farrow-to-fmish industrial farms, representing 11.8% of the total greek farms with >= 150 sows under production, were selected. Apart from herd size, the criteria of selection wereas follows: a) confinement facilities, b) location in regions with dense pig population, c) supervision by responsible veterinarians and d) efficient computerized recording system. Herd size was ranged between 150 and 2,200 sows under production.