In the world of swine production, sow longevity is a critical factor that can significantly impact lifetime production metrics and overall farm profitability. By optimizing sow and gilt longevity, swine production systems can achieve healthier, more productive sows that contribute to greater system success. Key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sow replacement rates, lifetime pigs weaned and gross returns are essential metrics to prioritize when raising sows for greater longevity.
Sow Lifetime Performance is Comprised of Four Main Components1
Challenges for Achieving Optimal Sow Longevity
Achieving optimal sow longevity is not without its challenges. Sow lifetime performance metrics can be significantly impacted if a sow is unable to remain in the herd. It’s generally accepted that a sow becomes profitable after her third parity (P3). When sows stay in the herd longer, it dilutes the costs of production for a greater return on investment. The challenge today is that over half of sow removals occur before P22. Swine producers often face issues such as claw lesions frequently leading to lameness, challenges with environment and housing, genetics, gilt selection and rearing, stockmanship and management, as well as nutrition and feeding. These obstacles emphasize the need for effective solutions to ensure sows can wean a third litter and maximize their lifetime productivity.
Proof of Performance Solutions from Zinpro®
Zinpro offers nutritional solutions designed to address these challenges and improve sow longevity and productivity. The incorporation of Zinpro in sow diets supports improved health and robustness, creating healthier pigs that perform to their maximum potential.
A meta-analysis representing nine studies over 10 years demonstrated improvements in total born alive across a wide range of diets, genetics and production environments. Feeding Zinpro® Availa ®Sow in gestation and lactation diets improved pigs born alive by 0.32 pigs per litter compared to the control group.
We are committed to helping you achieve your goals by optimizing sow and gilt health. By incorporating nutritional solutions from Zinpro®, you can improve KPIs, boost farm profitability and ensure healthier, more productive sows. We encourage you to explore the detailed research and metrics provided in part two of our four-part eBook series so you can make informed nutritional decisions for your operation.
Want to take a deeper dive? Sign up today to receive our eBook, Optimizing Sow and Gilt Longevity, Improve Lifetime Production Metrics with Nutritional Solutions from Zinpro.
1Koketsu, Y., Iida, R. Farm data analysis for lifetime performance components of sows and their predictors in breeding herds. Porc Health Manag 6, 24 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40813-020-00163-1.
2 Adapted from Meta Farms, 2019.
