[Causes of mortality in a swine breeding establishment]

Preweaning losses: During the period from September 1991 to August 1992, from 18021 piglets born alive 3417 died until weaning. Major causes of death were crushing by the sow, low birth weight, starvation, splay-leg disease and enteritis. Of these animals 51.6% died during the first three days of life. Mortality decreased during the preweaning period. Litters with more than 11 pigs had elevated death rates of piglets. Mortality was higher during the cold season (except January). Postweaning losses: During the postweaning period 6.4% of the weaned piglets were lost. Of these piglets 4.1% died and the remaining 2.3% were sold due to umbilical hernia. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract were the main cause of death. Losses of gilts: During the one-year surveillance period 373 gilts were lost. Most of 18 deceased animals died from bleeding due to gastric ulcers and from purulent bronchopneumonia. 314 (91.1%) of the remaining 355 gilts were sold, the residual 9.9% of the animals were slaughtered mainly because of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Losses of sows: In the breeding herd of 950 to 1035 animals, 35 sows died and 492 were culled in the course of one year. Most deaths resulted from cardiac failure and splenic torsion. Urogenital and locomotor diseases were the main reason for culling. The sows removed from the herd had produced an average of 3.6 litters, but 52.8% had produced no more than 3 litters. Losses of boars: During the survey 10 boars were slaughtered.