Abstract
Modern commercial pig production is a complex process that requires successful producers to understand and resolve factors associated with perturbations in production. One important perturbation is inventory loss due to mortality. In this study, data on 60 lots of approximately 2000 weaned pigs (n = 115,213) from one commercial production system were collected through the wean-to-finish (WTF) cycle with the objective of establishing patterns of mortality, estimating differences in profit/loss among patterns of mortality, and identifying production practices associated with mortality patterns. Information provided by the production system included the number of pigs in each lot at the time of placement (beginning inventory), weaning weight, barn dimensions, number of dead pigs (NDP) daily, capacity placed (proportion pigs actually placed versus what had been planned to be placed) and average weight sold. Analysis of NDP revealed three mortality patterns (clusters I, II, III) composed of 6, 40, and 14 lots, respectively, that differed in the temporal onset and/or level of mortality. Average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated by growth phase for each cluster. An economic model showed profit differences among clusters due to poor biological performance by clusters I and III in the late finishing phase. Cluster II (n = 40) had fewer dead pigs and the highest profit compared to clusters I (n = 6) and III (n = 14). Area per pig (stocking density) was the only factor associated with the differences in mortality patterns. Routine monitoring and the analysis of mortality patterns for associations with production and management factors can help swine producers improve biological performance and improve profit.
Highlights
Modern pig production is a complex process that results in pounds of pork generated over time
A time series plot of each of the 60 lots’ mortality by week on feed was created and lots with observed similarities in mortality patterns were assigned to a cluster
A cluster included all lots in which increased mortality appeared to begin during approximately the same week(s) on feed (Figure 3)
Summary
Modern pig production is a complex process that results in pounds of pork generated over time. Optimum performance requires production systems to understand factors associated with perturbations in production during the course of the post-weaning period, including the inventory loss due to pig deaths. Previous studies of post-weaning pig deaths described infectious causes [1,2], pig mortality patterns [1,3], and risk factors [2,4,5,6]. One study identified mortality reduction as an animal welfare issue and highlighted the need to identify risk factors [4], sources of variation at the pig and. Each paper advised pork producers to investigate their own production systems for factors associated with increased mortality. This study sought to determine if distinct mortality patterns existed within a commercial wean-to-finish (WTF)
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