Some Factors Influencing the Losses of Pigs Prior to Weaning

Analyses of the records of 244 litters of purebred Yorkshire, Landrace, the crosses, backcrosses and crisscrosses of these two breeds were carried out to evaluate some of the factors influencing the losses of piglets prior to weaning.

There were differences in percentage survival between mating systems, with crossbred Landrace x Yorkshire piglets showing the highest rate of survival.

A direct relationship existed between the duration of farrowing and the incidence of stillbirths. The incidence of stillbirths was higher for male piglets than for female piglets.

Litter size at birth and weight loss of sow from parturition to weaning were important factors in determining litter size at weaning. Litter size at birth however, exerted a more important influence on litter performance than weight loss.

Age of sow had no significant effect on the number of piglets alive at weaning and implied that gilts were apparently as good mothers as sows.

From computed least squares estimates, it was implied that in general, piglets of low birthweights had much less chance of survival than those born with heavier weights.