No CrossRef data available.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 November 2017
Pig producers must continuously strive for improved productivity and efficiency in order to remain competitive. The effect of sow culling rate on overall herd productivity is well documented in the scientific literature (Kroes and Van Male 1979, Dagom and Aumaitre 1979, Dujkhuizen 1986). Recent indications, however, are that there is still much room for improvement in the efficiency of sow culling policy. The objectives of this work were a) to determine the incidence of and reasons for culling in a modern 800 sow commercial pig farm using Large White x Landrace sows, and b) to attempt to develop a more objective basis for culling on poor litter performance (essentially low numbers born).