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Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 7/27/1995 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The greatest percentage of neonatal mortality in pigs is due to crushing. Recent surveys using the computer record systems Pig-CHAMP**TM and National Animal Health Monitoring System found trauma (mostly crushing) to account for 53.8 and 43.2% of piglet deaths, respectively. Farrowings from the University of Missouri Swine Research Complex from 1990-1994 of 9441 piglets born were evaluated for source of mortality during the winter and summer seasons. Of the total piglets born, 9.6% were crushed during the summer and 7.0% were crushed in the winter. Of the total piglets crushed, 60.9% were crushed in the summer and 39.1% were crushed in the winter. Of the total piglets crushed, 39.9% were female and 60.1% were males. Of the total piglets crushed, 25.4% were summer females, 35.4% were summer males, 14.4% were winter females and 24.6% were winter males. Litter size had no influence on crushing. Birthweight slightly affected (P<.05) incidences of crushing in only 2 of the 5 years evaluated. The greatest amount of crushing occurred in the first 3 d. These data quantify differences in seasons and sex that have significant impact on piglet mortality and are of economic consequences. |
