The mysteries of litter size in swine-nutritional implications

摘要

Of the many difficulties facing pig producers in Asia there appears to be a common concern with litter size. Despite the adoption of many technologies. and best practices common in Europe and North America litter size has remained frustratingly non-responsive. The annual survey of the Philippine swine industry has recorded an average litter size of around 9.1 pigs born alive/litter for several years. This contrasts to a comparable UK figure of 11.1 pigs born alive/litter. This difference of 2 pigs per litter with all other production parameters constant would result in the production of about 4-5 pigs less per sow/year. Sow productivity is fundamental to profitable swine production, and is the cumulation of litters/sow year, litter size and pigletsurvival. Of these litter size is probably the most sensitive to shortfalls in management and nutrition.