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Measurement of Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster

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Developmental factors that influence sow longevity.

M D Hoge¹, R O Bates

¹Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA.

Journal of Animal Science

|December 25, 2010

Summary

Defining sow longevity is crucial for economic and welfare improvements. Key developmental factors like age at first farrowing and litter performance significantly impact sow productive lifespan, guiding better management practices.

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Area of Science:

Animal Science
Reproductive Biology
Swine Production

Background:

Sow longevity is an economic and animal welfare concern.
Inconsistent definitions of sow longevity hinder accurate measurement and management.
Understanding factors influencing sow lifespan is vital for the pork industry.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess six different definitions of sow longevity.
To determine the relationship between developmental performance factors and sow longevity.
To identify key predictors of sow productive lifespan.

Main Methods:

Analysis of 14,262 Yorkshire female records from nucleus and multiplication herds.
Utilized two data sets: farrowing records (Data A) and farrowing records with growth/composition data (Data B).
Employed a Cox proportional hazards model to assess the impact of developmental factors on longevity.

Main Results:

Age at first farrowing, litter size, litter weight, stillborns, backfat, and growth significantly influenced longevity across definitions.
Fatter, slower-growing gilts exhibited decreased culling risk.
Sows with better first-litter performance (more pigs born alive, heavier litters) had reduced culling risk.
Sows in nucleus herds faced a higher culling risk.

Conclusions:

Multiple developmental and performance factors significantly affect sow longevity, irrespective of the definition used.
Pork producers can optimize management strategies to extend sow productive life.
Improved sow longevity can lead to enhanced profitability and animal welfare in swine operations.