127 Factors associated with specific health welfare and reproductive performance indicators in pig herds from five EU countries (Research paper; Chantziaras, 2018)

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127 Research paper – Chantziaras – 2018 – Factors associated with specific health welfare and reproductive performance indicators in pig herds from five EU countries

Housing and welfare \ Weaning age and management; Pathogen management
Species targeted: Pigs;
Age: Young; Adult;
Summary:
Production diseases are often the result of interactions between many factors. The focus of this study was to identify specific environment-related factors and to discuss their associations with health, welfare and reproductive performance in sows and piglets, in diverse systems using data from 130 farms from five EU countries. Eight parameters were selected from this data, four related to sow reproductive performance (litter index, replacement rate, repeat breeding (i.e. failure to breed after one mating), weaning to first mating interval) and the remaining four to litter / piglet health performance (piglets born alive per litter, piglets born dead per litter, preweaning mortality rate and weaned piglets per litter). Data analysis showed that factors related to applying good farm and health management, and optimal housing conditions were found to have a positive effect on various sow and piglet performance parameters.

Where to find the original material: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587718303908; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.09.006
Country: BE; DE, DK; FI; UK