Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2006 Jun;47(6):560-6.

Pig characteristics associated with mortality and light exit weight for the nursery phase

A J Larriestra  1 , S Wattanaphansak, E J Neumann, J Bradford, R B Morrison, J Deen
Affiliations

Pig characteristics associated with mortality and light exit weight for the nursery phase

A J Larriestra et al. Can Vet J. 2006 Jun.

Abstract
in English, French

One thousand and ten weaned pigs that were reared in 1 nursery in Iowa from weaning (17 +/- 2 days ) until 10 weeks of age were evaluated. A weaning weight threshold of 3.6 kg maximized the sensitivity and specificity to correctly predict the likelihood of dying or being light in weight at exit from the nursery (< or = 14.5 kg). Weaning weight < or = 3.6 kg (OR = 2.92), barrow (OR = 1.75), and sow unit (A versus B, OR = 2.14) were significant predictors of mortality in the nursery. Birth weight < or = 1.0 kg (OR = 2.66), weaning weight < or = 3.6 kg (OR = 8.75), gilt (OR = 1.4), sow unit (OR = 2.38), and gilt as nursing sow at weaning (OR = 1.66) were significant predictors of being lightweight at nursery exit. Eighteen per cent of the nursery deaths and almost half of lightweight nursery pigs could be prevented if there were no lightweight pigs at weaning.

Traits caractéristiques des porcs associés à la mortalité et au faible poids au départ pour la pouponnière. Mille dix porcelets sevrés gardés dans une porcherie de post-sevrage de l’Iowa entre le sevrage (17 ± 2 jours) et l’âge de 10 semaines ont été évalués. Un poids limite de 3,6 kg au début du sevrage maximisait la sensibilité et la précision de la prévision des risques de mortalité ou de faible poids au départ de la pouponnière (≤ 14,5 kg). Le poids au sevrage ≤ 3,5 kg (RC = 2,92), la castration chez le mâle (RC = 1,75) et la provenance de la truie (A versus B, RC = 2,14) constituaient des indicateurs significatifs de mortalité en pouponnière. Le poids à la naissance ≤ 1 kg (RC = 2,66), le poids au sevrage ≤ 3,6 kg (RC = 8,75), la première mise bas (RC=1,4), la provenance de la truie (RC = 2,38) et la première lactation (RC = 1,66) constituaient des indicateurs significatifs de faible poids en fin de post-sevrage. Dix-huit pour cent des morts en post-sevrage et près de la moitié des porcelets de faible poids en pouponnière auraient pu être évités s’il n’y avait pas eu de porcelets de faible poids au sevrage.

(Traduit par Docteur André Blouin)

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sensitivity and specificity of predicting death and survival of pigs during the nursery (17 d to 10 wk) by using different weight thresholds at weaning (17 ± 2 d).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sensitivity and specificity of detecting light (≤ 14.5 kg) and heavy (> 14.5 kg) weight pigs at exit from nursery (10 wk old) by using different weight thresholds at weaning (17 ± 2 d). Note: the criterion to define light and heavy pig at exit was 14.5 kg
Figure 3
Figure 3
Survival during the nursery phase (17 d to 10 wk) by pig gender.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Survival during the nursery phase (17 d to 10 wk) for pigs with weaning weight above (heavy) and below (light) 3.6 kg.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Fangman TJ, Tubbs RC, Henningsen-Dyer K. Influence of weaning site, weaning age, and viral exposure on production performance in early-weaned nursery pigs. J Swine Health Prod. 1996;4:223–229.
    1. Leibbrandt VD, Ewan RC, Speer VC, Zimmerman DR. Effect of weaning and age at weaning on baby pig performance. J Anim Sci. 1975;40:1078–1081.
    1. Mahan DC. Effect of weight, split-weaning, and nursery feeding programs on performance response of pigs to 105 kilograms body weight and subsequent effects on sow rebreeding interval. J Anim Sci. 1993;71:1991–1995. - PubMed
    1. Main RG, Dritz SS, Tokach MD, Goodband RD, Nelssen JL. Increasing age improves pig performance in a multisite production system. J Anim Sci. 2004;82:1899–1507. - PubMed
    1. Bruininx EMA, van der Peet-Schewerin CMC, Schrama JW, et al. Individually measured feed intake characteristics and growth performance of group-housed weanling pigs: effects of sex, initial body weight, and body weight distribution within groups. J Anim Sci. 2001;79:301–308. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources