The use and interpretation of records
The causes of infertility cannot be determined and corrective action taken without collecting reliable information and using it in a meaningful way. Records required for each breeding female to understand reproductive failure:
- The sow number.
- The number of litters or parity.
- The dates of mating, farrowing and weaning.
- The number of services at each mating.
- The service quality. (Rate each service as 1, 2 or 3 - good, moderate or poor).
- The boar used or AI.
- The lactation length.
- Mummified piglets and their size.
- The numbers born alive/dead.
- The weaning to service interval.
Records required for the breeding herd
- Litter size variation * (scatter).
- Repeat matings - and their intervals in days.
- Abortions - and the age of foetuses
- Females found not in pig.
- Discharges - The time when they occur post-service, observations and the outcome.
- Parity distribution.
* Percentage of litters with total born (alive/dead/mummified) less than 9.
Whilst the above information looks rather daunting it is normally recorded in the mating book and on the sow and litter card on most farms. If a problem arises it is a simple procedure to identify the sows involved, collect the individual data and look for common features.
Fig.5-7 provides data against which your own farm performance can be related. These suggested targets and action levels for the various parameters are not absolute but rather broad guidelines.
