An association analysis of sow parity, live-weight and back-fat depth as indicators of sow productivity
Date
2019-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Abstract
Understanding how critical sow live-weight and back-fat depth during gestation are in ensuring optimum sow productivity is
important. The objective of this study was to quantify the association between sow parity, live-weight and back-fat depth
during gestation with subsequent sow reproductive performance. Records of 1058 sows and 13 827 piglets from 10 trials on
two research farms between the years 2005 and 2015 were analysed. Sows ranged from parity 1 to 6 with the number of sows
per parity distributed as follows: 232, 277, 180, 131, 132 and 106, respectively. Variables that were analysed included total born
(TB), born alive (BA), piglet birth weight (BtWT), pre-weaning mortality (PWM), piglet wean weight (WnWT), number of piglets
weaned (Wn), wean to service interval (WSI), piglets born alive in subsequent farrowing and sow lactation feed intake.
Calculated variables included the within-litter CV in birth weight (LtV), pre-weaning growth rate per litter (PWG), total litter
gain (TLG), lactation efficiency and litter size reared after cross-fostering. Data were analysed using linear mixed models
accounting for covariance among records. Third and fourth parity sows had more (P<0.05) TB, BA and heavier BtWT compared
with gilts and parity 6 sow contemporaries. Parities 2 and 3 sows weaned more (P<0.05) piglets than older sows. These
piglets had heavier (P<0.05) birth weights than those from gilt litters. LtV and PWM were greater (P<0.01) in litters born to
parity 5 sows than those born to younger sows. Sow live-weight and back-fat depth at service, days 25 and 50 of gestation
were not associated with TB, BA, BtWT, LtV, PWG, WnWT or lactation efficiency (P>0.05). Heavier sow live-weight throughout
gestation was associated with an increase in PWM (P<0.01) and reduced Wn and lactation feed intake (P<0.05). Deeper
back-fat in late gestation was associated with fewer (P<0.05) BA but heavier (P<0.05) BtWT, whereas deeper back-fat
depth throughout gestation was associated with reduced (P<0.01) lactation feed intake. Sow back-fat depth was not
associated with LtV, PWG, TLG, WSI or piglets born alive in subsequent farrowing (P>0.05). In conclusion, this study showed
that sow parity, live-weight and back-fat depth can be used as indicators of reproductive performance. In addition, this study
also provides validation for future development of a benchmarking tool to monitor and improve the productivity of modern
sow herd.
Description
Publication history: Accepted - 4 June 2018; Published online - 18 July 2018;
Published - March 2019.
item.page.type
Article
item.page.format
Keywords
pigs, reproduction, body condition, parity, meta-analysis
Citation
Lavery, A., Lawlor, P. G., Magowan, E., Miller, H. M., O’Driscoll, K. and Berry, D. P. (2018) ‘An association analysis of sow parity, live-weight and back-fat depth as indicators of sow productivity’, animal. Cambridge University Press (CUP), 13(3), pp. 622–630. doi: 10.1017/s1751731118001799.