Sow culling rates have a direct correlation to the economic efficiency of a breeding herd. Some sows are culled voluntarily in an effort to improve overall herd performance. These sows may have weaned small litters, savaged their pigs or had a poor disposition. Other sows are culled involuntarily. These sows may have failed to breed, failed to conceive after two estrous cycles or simply died. Most recordkeeping programs offer mechanisms to record the reason(s) why individual sows are culled.
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