Utilization and reproductive performance of gilts in large-scale pig farming system with different production levels in China: a descriptive study

Abstract

Background This study was to investigate the utilization and reproductive performance of gilts in large-scale pig farms. Data of this descriptive study included 169,013 gilts of 1540 gilts’ batches on 105 large-scale pig farms from April 2020 to March 2021. According to the upper and lower 25th percentiles of piglets weaned per sow per year (PSY) during the research stage, pig farms were divided into three productivity groups: high-performing (HP), intermediate-performing (IP) and low-performing (LP) farms. On the basis of breeds, LP (LP-Total) farms was further divided into LP-breeding pig (LP-BP) and LP-commercial pig (LP-CP) groups. Average utilization, estrus and first mating data was collected from a total of 1540 gilts’ batches. The age-related factors (introduction age, age at first estrus and age at first mating) and litter production (total number of piglets, number of piglets born alive and number of weaned piglets, as well as their proportion distribution) among HP and LP groups were compared. The litter production in different age groups were also analyzed. Results The introduction age, mortality and culling rate of HP farms were lower compared with LP farms. Total number of piglets per litter, number of piglets born alive per litter and number of weaned piglets per litter in HP farms were significantly more than those of LP groups, respectively. The proportion distribution peaks of litter production in HP farms were shifted about two more than those in LP groups, respectively; and the proportion of low litter production (eight per litter or less) was lower than that in LP groups. The results of different age groups showed that total number of piglets per litter and number of piglets born alive per litter in 220–279 d were the most, while that of 370 d was the least. Conclusions The overall utilization and reproductive performance of gilts in HP farms was better than those of LP farms. The difference in utilization was reflected in introduction source, culling rate and mortality. While the age at first estrus and first mating, breeds and litter production were the main differences for reproductive performance.

Comparative analysis of productive performance and fattening efficiency of commercial pigs in China for two consecutive years

“…From the internal data management system, we found that the proportion of gilts in 2021 was 21.8% higher than that in 2020 (data not shown), which meant that the proportion of primiparous sows in 2021 was higher. As we all know, the reproductive performance of primiparous sows was lower than that of multiparous sows, which was reflected in a lower farrowing rate and a higher number of born alive piglets per litter 18,19 . Piglets farrowing by young sows were more likely to suffer from diseases, mainly because of the low availability of high-quality colostrum and milk, which meant lower passive immunity 20 .…”

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Optimizing the Construction and Update Strategies for the Genomic Selection of Pig Reference and Candidate Populations in China

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