The top 25 per cent of farms with Topigs' genetics weaned an average of 30 piglets per sow per year in 2009. This emerged from the technical results of 951 Dutch farms with a total of almost 409,000 sows. The top 25 per cent of farms (238 farms) accommodate almost 112,000 sows. The average figure for all farms was 27.7 weaned piglets per sow per year.

In 2009, two farms weaned more than 33 piglets per sow per year. Seven farms achieved more than 32 piglets. Almost 100 farms (98) in the Topigs' dataset weaned more than 30 piglets per sow per year.

Despite the increased production per sow, piglet mortality has not risen. The average piglet mortality was 12.1 per cent, the same as in 2008. For the top 25 per cent of farms the mortality was even lower than the average, namely 11 per cent.

These figures demonstrate that Topigs' balanced breeding is effective. Paying good attention to vigor and piglet survival in the breeding allows the sows to farrow bigger litters without an increase in piglet mortality. Together with good management on the multiplier farms, this contributes to realising the agreements made in the covenant with the Dutch government about piglet mortality.

The results have been compiled using overviews from the sow management system submitted by Dutch sow managers. Data from farms that breed their own sows, linked to the Pigbase system of Topigs, were also included in the overview.

Technical results Topigs' sows in 2009

Trend in preweaning mortality and liveborn piglets per litter (genetic trend)