[Causes of losses in a pig fattening facility]

Losses of fatteners in a pig-husbandry were monitored over a one year period. All fatteners which perished or were slaughtered prematurely were taken into consideration. Out of 10,485 fatteners six hundred (5.7%) pigs were lost prematurely. Of these animals, 360 (60.0%) were slaughtered, and 240 (40.0%) died. Diseases of the respiratory system were the most frequent drop-out reason (32.3%). Pneumonia (mostly pleuropneumonia) was diagnosed in 90.7% of these animals. Thirty one percent of the lost fatteners had diseases of the locomotor system. Of these disorders, 73.1% affected the skeleton and joints, and in 26.9% PSE-syndrome was found. Other disorders were: diseases of the cardiovascular system (13.7%), intestinal tract (10.0%), urogenital tract (1.2%), skin (1.5%), and diseases of other specific organs (5.7%). Cannibalism was found in 2.3% of the lost fatteners, unthriftiness in 1.0%, and in 1.3% the cause of the loss could not be identified. The greatest numbers of fatteners were removed during the cold season, particularly in September. Most of the lost pigs (53.3%) had a body mass between 31 and 60 kg. The highest drop-out rates were found during weeks 2 to 6 and 9 to 12 of the fattening period.