The effect of maternal and litter factors on piglet mortality rate

摘要

This investigation includes a total of 1 051 piglets, originating from 95 litters, who were offspring of 39 Large White x Landrace sows sired by Pittrain x Duroc boars. The mortality rates at birth and in the period of lactation were 3.2 and 28.3 %, respectively. The number of stillbirths per litter was increased (P < 0.05) by greater heterogeneity, measured as a coefficient of weight variation within the litter. The number of piglets lost during lactation increased (P < 0.05) with litter size, by an increasing coefficient of variation in average weight of liveborn piglets and by a descending average weight of birth. Parity order, season of farrowing and litter male/female class did not affect mortality at birth. However, a slightly higher number of deaths occurring during lactation was observed in parity 2 compared with parity 4 litters (3.1 vs. 2.4 %). In addition, mortality at birth was slightly higher for suckling piglets born in summer than for those born in spring and autumn (3.2 % vs. 2.4 and 2.5 %, respectively). Piglet losses increased as the milk yield on day 7 post partum was < 4 kg, but the total milk production during lactation did not affect mortality during the lactation period. A large percentage (69 %) of all piglet losses occurred in the Ist week of lactation. Piglet birth weights in the intervals > 1.25 kg, between 1.25 and 1.00 kg and < 1.00 kg resulted in mortality rates of 20, 39 and 61 %, respectively. Piglets lost during the lactation period were observed to have weight losses or low daily weight gains. ((C) Elsevier / Inra). [References: 37]