Investigation and Control of Reproductive Disorders in The Breeding Herd

Abstract

At a national level there are unceasing efforts through research, technological innovation and education of producers to raise productivity of the pig industry to levels above the contemporary norm. Within this pace-setting framework the individual pig producer must set his own herd performance standard or target, and then try to maintain herd output as close as possible to that level with the greatest efficiency. Performance standards in commercial herds include both physical and financial ones. However the latter, because they are so prone to market fluctuations beyond the producer's control, are less useful as criteria of efficiency. Some physical criteria which are extremely precise e.g. feed used per kilogram of pigmeat produced, or weaners (of defined age) per sow place per year, do emphasize important aspects of herd management and are dealt with in other chapters. In this Chapter attention is confined to the area of reproductive failure, i.e. failure by the breeding herd to reproduce adequate numbers of healthy newborn piglets within a specified time period. The term 'control' is used in the broad sense, i.e. any action which is taken to prevent, correct or reduce reproductive failure to a level where it no longer affects herd profitability. It will be apparent from the foregoing remarks that, in the context of modern pig production, any distinction between control of overt diseases of reproduction (the traditional province of the veterinarian) and the control of reproductive failures arising from managemental inefficiency is very blurred. In the past the veterinary role tended to be of the 'firebrigade' type, with intermittent responses to outbreaks of frank reproductive disease. This role is now changing rapidly with emphasis on closer and more regular involvement, not only with disease matters, but also with target setting, monitoring, stockmanship and many other aspects of herd management. Control of reproductive failure should, in fact, be seen as an integral part of the management process, the aim of which is to achieve and maintain a high level of herd health, performance and profitability. The principal steps involved in control of reproductive failure are shown in Figure 27.1 and it is these steps which are the main objects of discussion in this chapter.