Bonckaert Caroline, Brossé Charlotte, Vandersmissen Tamara, Caliskan Nermin, Buys Ellen, Chantziaras Ilias, Maes Dominiek
Animal Health Care Flanders, Hagenbroeksesteenweg 167, 2500 Lier, Belgium.
Unit of Porcine Health Management, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Vet Sci. 2025 Jun 20;12(7):603. doi: 10.3390/vetsci12070603.
Sow mortality is a critical issue in intensive pig farming, impacting animal welfare, farm sustainability, and profitability. This study investigated the occurrence and causes of sow mortality on 15 Flemish sow farms, focusing on management practices, housing conditions, feeding strategies, and genetics. The average sow mortality rate across the farms was 11.4% in 2022, which decreased to 8.1% in 2023 following the implementation of targeted control measures. Necropsies performed on 100 deceased sows, coming from the 15 different farms, revealed that the primary causes of mortality were positional changes in internal organs (32%), arthritis (19%), and urogenital disorders (7%). Key recommendations to reduce sow mortality included optimizing sow health and body condition, improving housing and feeding management, and addressing genetic factors. The study highlights the multifaceted nature of sow mortality and the importance of a comprehensive approach to mitigate risks and improve sow welfare and productivity.
母猪死亡率是集约化养猪业中的一个关键问题，影响着动物福利、农场可持续性和盈利能力。本研究调查了15个弗拉芒母猪养殖场母猪死亡的发生情况及原因，重点关注管理实践、饲养条件、饲喂策略和遗传学。2022年，各养殖场的平均母猪死亡率为11.4%，在实施针对性控制措施后，2023年降至8.1%。对来自15个不同养殖场的100头死亡母猪进行的尸检显示，死亡的主要原因是内脏位置改变（32%）、关节炎（19%）和泌尿生殖系统疾病（7%）。降低母猪死亡率的关键建议包括优化母猪健康和身体状况、改善饲养和饲喂管理以及解决遗传因素。该研究强调了母猪死亡率的多面性以及采取综合方法降低风险、改善母猪福利和生产力的重要性。
