Factors affecting length of productive life in Swedish commercial sows

The objective of this study was to investigate factors that might influence the length of productive life in Swedish crossbred (Landrace x Yorkshire) sows. The data set consisted of 20,310 sows farrowing between 2001 and 2004 in 21 commercial piglet-producing herds. Productive life (PL) was defined as the number of days between first farrowing and removal or termination of data collection. In addition to the overall risk analysis of PL, another 4 longevity traits were analyzed (competing risk analyses): reproductive disorder-determined length of PL (RPL), udder problem-determined length of PL (UPL), lameness-determined length of PL (LPL), and mortality-determined length of PL (MPL). Analyses were performed by using survival analysis, applying a Weibull model with 6 time-dependent and 1 time-independent variable (age at first farrowing). The factor with the largest contribution to the likelihood function for PL was days after farrowing, followed by parity, the herd x year combination, the total number of piglets born, days between weaning and next farrowing, farrowing month, and age at first farrowing. For all 4 competing risk traits, the factors contributing most to the likelihood function were days after farrowing, the herd x year combination, and parity, with a varied order between traits. The hazard for removal was greatest 30 to 40 d after farrowing (after weaning) for PL, UPL, and LPL (P < 0.001). However, for MPL the hazard was greatest just after farrowing (0 to 10 d), and for RPL the hazard peaked at 70 to 100 d after farrowing. The hazard for removal was, compared with parity 1, less in parities 2 to 7 and greater from parity 8 for PL (P < 0.001). The hazard was greatest in parity 1 (P < 0.01) for RPL, UPL, and LPL, whereas for MPL the hazard increased with greater parity number and was markedly greater from parity 9 (P < 0.001). Sows with litters of 9 piglets or less had a greater hazard for removal than sows with litters of 12 to 13 piglets (P < 0.001). Intervals between 120 and 122 d from weaning to the next farrowing showed the lowest hazard for removal (P < 0.001). The influence of farrowing month displayed no clear pattern for PL. Sows of 14 mo or older at their first farrowing had a 20% greater hazard for removal than younger sows (P < 0.001). The hazard for removal was greater for smaller litters in all parities but was more accentuated in greater parities. Overall, days after farrowing was the main risk factor for sow removal. Removal hazard was greatest shortly after weaning, and this peak increased with greater parity number.