21 Issues of sow lifetime productivity from an international perspective: from research to production level

Abstract

Abstract Sow longevity is defined as the time elapsed from gilt entry into the breeding herd until her removal as a result of culling or death. Increasing herd retention rate is important to improve sow lifetime productivity. Higher removal rate implies an increase in the percentage of young females in the herd, a category with lower production potential and a higher risk of early culling. Systematic gilt replacement is required for genetic gain, but it is essential to achieve a retention rate that allows the sows to reach their maximum production potential in the later parities. In this way, it is important to evaluate the reasons for removal and death in order to establish strategies for reducing involuntary culling and controlling mortality rate. Although reproductive failures persist as the main culling cause, its expressivity has been apparently reduced. To improve sow retention rate, management intervention should start during gestation with a focus on improving the replacement gilt’s weight at birth. Ensuring adequate colostrum intake is critical for achieving targeted pre-wean and post-wean growth rate. In addition, approaches that improve gilt body development during the post-weaning phase and up to first breeding are key steps to reducing culling for structural problems and low reproductive performance. In this sense, the use of gilt development units allows a regulated flow of replacement gilts that meet the required parameters recommended by the different genetic suppliers. Because locomotor disorders are frequent reasons for early culling, inspection and maintenance of the animal facilities should be prioritized in all phases of rearing gilts and sows. The opportunity to reduce sow mortality, culling for poor reproduction, and structural failure resides in the ability to translate new research discoveries on gilt birthweight, growth, and body measures into improved lifetime pig production to the 3rd parity.