A Review of Reproduction in the Pig
By David Chennells MA Vet MB CertPM MRCVS - The performance of the breeding herd is fundamental to the financial success of any pig farm. If pigs are not born they cannot be sold. Recent surveys by MLC/BPEX indicate that the industry is producing only an average of 18.5 pigs per sow per year (p/s/y) which is woeful compared to many of our European competitors who claim in excess of 22. Even making allowances for our high incidence of PMWS this still points to a serious under performance of our national breeding herd of between 2.5 to 3.5 p/s/y. This is very expensive; merely calculating the number of empty days in an average herd results in an extra cost of £71 per sow per year (J.D Mackinnon). Likewise, increasing the output by 2.5 pigs per year can reduce the cost of producing a piglet by £3.92; which would be worth £32,928 to a 400 sow unit.
11 July 2005
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