Factors associated with prolonged weaning-to-mating interval among sows on farms that wean pigs early.

OBJECTIVE

To determine factors associated with weaning-to-mating interval among sows on commercial farms that wean pigs early.

DESIGN

Cohort study.

ANIMALS

11,861 farrowing sows.

PROCEDURE

Production, farrowing, and feed intake records were reviewed for sows on 16 farms for which mean duration of lactation was between 14.9 and 18.9 days.

RESULTS

Among sows with high feed intake during lactation (> or = 5.6 kg/d [12.3 lb/d]), lactation duration was not associated with weaning-to-mating interval, but among sows with low feed intake during lactation (< 5.6 kg/d), weaning-to-mating interval increased as lactation duration decreased. Furthermore, among sows with the lowest feed intake during lactation (< 4.2 kg/d [9.2 lb/d]), those that had heavier litter weights at weaning (> 54 kg [119 lb]) had a longer weaning-to-mating interval than did those that had lighter litter weights at weaning. Sows with low feed intake and high litter weight at weaning accounted for 5 to 20% of sows on each farm. In general, weaning-to-mating interval increased as parity decreased, but the change in weaning-to-mating interval associated with a particular change in lactation duration varied with parity.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

When feed intake during lactation is maximized (> or = 5.6 kg/d), lactation duration is not significantly associated with weaning-to-mating interval. Producers should consider fostering or partially weaning litters when sows with high litter weights are not consuming sufficient feed.