Dead Sows do not Rear Piglets

Abstract Increasing sow mortality continues to challenge pig producers in the U.S. Sow mortality is an animal well-being, economic and sustainability concern. The majority of sow death loss occurs during late gestation and lactation. Unborn piglets are not able to survive when a sow dies in late gestation. During lactation, sow death (depending on stage of lactation) reduces the availability of colostrum, milk and number of functional teats available to a batch of piglets. Hence sow mortality impedes reproductive throughput. The author characterized sow mortality and evaluated nutritional interventions at a 2,600 animal commercial sow farm in eastern North Carolina over a 27-week period. Sows were housed in individual stalls during gestation. Sow mortality was specifically evaluated between day 95 of gestation and 30 days post-farrowing. Females were evaluated at day 95 of gestation for body condition using the Knauer sow body condition caliper. Sows were further evaluated for abnormalities (e.g., structural conformation, overgrown toes and dew claws, perineal swelling, behavior). Farm recorded sow mortality codes included difficult farrow (7%), lameness (32%), prolapse (21%) and unknown (40%). Of the 3,340 sows evaluated, 190 (5.7%) died between day 95 of gestation and 30 days post-farrow. Abnormalities were more likely (P < 0.01) to be recorded for sows that subsequently died when compared with sows that lived (15.3 vs. 4.5%). Sow mortality was associated (P < 0.05) with both parity and sow body condition. First litter females and heavier conditioned sows were more likely to survive. Yet these two factors combined explained less than 2% of the variation in sow mortality. Few nutritional interventions have been scientifically evaluated in relation to sow mortality. The author will report on five pilot studies, conducted at the commercial sow farm in eastern North Carolina, evaluating the impact of different nutritional strategies to enhance sow livability. Pilot studies consisted of vitamin supplementation experiments (n = 3) in late gestation or the transition period, soybean meal supplementation in late gestation and increased feeding levels in late gestation. Supplementing a combination of vitamins E and C, in late gestation, showed promise in enhancing sow livability. Results challenge the author’s paradigm that poor stockmanship and structural conformation are largely related to the sow U.S. sow mortality dilemma. Hence it is recommended that the swine industry work to better understand the micro and macro nutrient requirements of modern sow genotypes under commercial environments.