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Congenital malformations in pigs in a post mortem material
Nordisk Veterinaermedicin
|March 1, 1977
Summary
Congenital malformations in pigs occurred at 1.4% of births across 17 herds. Higher rates were observed in closed herds, and artificial insemination may increase malformation frequency, necessitating monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Animal Genetics
- Swine Production
Background:
- Congenital malformations represent a significant concern in swine production.
- Understanding the incidence and contributing factors is crucial for herd health management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of congenital malformations in preweaning pigs.
- To analyze the relationship between malformations and herd management parameters.
Main Methods:
- Post-mortem examinations of pigs that died during the preweaning period.
- Data collection from 17 commercial swine herds over a 2-year period.
- Analysis of malformation incidence in relation to herd type (closed vs. purchased stock).
Main Results:
- A total of 1.4% of pigs born (410 out of 29,886) exhibited congenital malformations.
- Incidence varied between herds (0.6%–2.4%), with an average of 1.4%.
- Closed herds showed a higher frequency of malformed pigs (1.6%) compared to herds purchasing breeding stock (1.2%).
Conclusions:
- Approximately 70% of malformations were phenotypically recognizable.
- Natural insemination may maintain low levels of hereditary malformations.
- Increased use of artificial insemination necessitates systematic monitoring to prevent rising malformation rates.