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Risk factors for piglet mortality in outdoor farrowing systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2017

N.P. Shrestha
Affiliation:
Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
R. Roehe
Affiliation:
SAC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
K.M. Smurthwaite
Affiliation:
Grampian Country Food Group, Turriff, United Kingdom
S. Jarvis
Affiliation:
SAC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
A.B. Lawrence
Affiliation:
SAC, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
S.A. Edwards*
Affiliation:
Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Extract

Outdoor farrowing system account for 27% of breeding sows in England, and it is therefore important to understand the factors affecting their production efficiency. Piglet mortality is a significant economic and welfare issue, with farrowing and preweaning losses in commercial oudoor herds currently averaging 19% of all pigs born. Since sophisticated environmental and human interventions at the time of farrowing are infeasible in these systems, risk factors may differ in importance from those seen in indoor systems. A better understanding of the risk factors for different causes of mortality will help to design strategies to minimise losses.

Type
Posters
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2008

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References

Roehe, R., Shrestha, N.P., Mekkawy, W., Knap, P.W., Smurthwaite, K.M., Jarvis, S., Lawrence, A.B., Edwards, S.A. 2007. Genetic analyses of piglet survival and individual birth weight on first generation data of a selection experiment for piglet survival under outdoor conditions. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science, p65.Google Scholar