What influences the risk of sow mortality?

//16 May 2012 Factors increasing the risk of sow mortality in the lactation unit are pale vulva colour, body leanness, and presence of shoulder ulcers. That was the outcome of Danish research into the determining of risk factors for sow mortality. Mortality of sows is a major problem for pig production worldwide. In this study, the team from Aarhus University used hierarchical multivariable logistic analyses to investigate different risk factors for mortality at the sow and herd level in herds with group-housed pregnant sows. Sows used Data included 3,652 pregnant and 1,266 lactating sows from 34 sow herds. A clinical examination for 16 clinical signs was carried out for each sow, and information about 16 herd related factors was obtained by interviews. Farm records were used to obtain information about whether or not sows died suddenly or were euthanised within three months after the clinical examination. Factors increasing the risk of sow mortality in the gestation unit were solid pen floors, presence of vulva bites and unwillingness to stand when approached. The estimated differences between herd variation was small. Thus, the findings for the sow level variables may be generally applicable for sows in herds with group housed systems. Click here for the research that was published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine. Related websites: Aarhus University Preventive Veterinary Medicine