Reproductive Problems in Commercial Pig Farms

Abstract

The main goal of commercial pig production is to produce as much fattened pigs per sow per year as possible. Artificial insemination serves to enable maximum utilization of animal genetic potential. That is possible to achieve by applying adequate and controlled conditions of housing, care, feeding and health monitoring along with implementation of modern management. Expected production results on healthy farms implies farrowing rate of over 90% with 18 born piglets, 16 weaned piglets per liter, 37 piglets per sow per year and 31 fattened pigs per sow per year. Such results are achieved on modern farms in countries which invest a lot in pig production, but in Serbia are rarities. By analyzing of all factors which may cause reproductive problems on farms, we concluded that reproduction results can be improved by modern solutions from the domain of boar exploitation and technology of semen production. Motility and viability of spermatozoa to a large extent determine the quality parameters of sperm. Spermatozoa should be moved from the place of ejaculation through the reproductive tract of sows to the site of fertilization and to be capable to fertilize the oocytes at the right moment. Percentage of dead and deformed spermatozoa is an important factor which influences fertilization ability of boars. Besides routine macroscopic assessment and microscopic examination of semen, it is recommended to do smears and determine pathological forms of spermatozoa. It allows that bad quality semen can be excluded timely. Implementation of proper hygienic measures with the use of disposable equipment is required. By applying of all this specified measures during 12 months, we achieved improving of sows' conception rate for 7% and the number of weaned piglets per litter increased for 0.6.