32 www.pigchamp.com Spring 2025 Sow longevity remains a critical factor in optimizing production efficiency and profitability. PIC (Pig Improvement Company) is a global swine genetics business owned by Genus plc, a British-based company with offices around the world, including PIC North America. It sells breeding pigs and semen to farmers to help produce high-quality pork. It has developed a structured approach to sow robustness, centered on four key pillars: genetics; P1 development; body condition and feeding management; and individual sow care. Over the past decade, the modern sow has changed significantly. Increased productivity necessitates advancements in management strategies to support performance and longevity. Management improvements can also have a quicker impact than relying on genetics alone. In August 2023, the PIC Technical Services team initiated a collaborative project with a 10,000-head sow operation in the midwestern United States to assess and enhance sow robustness without compromising productivity. Diagnosing Sow Mortality Causes A sharp increase in sow mortality over four years signaled a need for intervention. Before implementing solutions, it was critical to conduct a comprehensive diagnostic assessment and identify the primary drivers of sow removals. This process involved analyzing farm data, the in-person evaluations, and the conducting of assessments to address a fundamental question: Why were sows being removed? Given the predominance of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) (44%), sudden deaths (35%), and lameness (10%), the team prioritized management strategies to mitigate these key risks. Central to this approach was the utilization of PIC’s Sow Robustness Monitor, a quarterly evaluation tool designed to assess the implementation of these pillars and track progress across 50 KPIs (key performance indicators) over time. Intervention Strategies to Enhance Robustness Following the initial robustness monitor assessment, PIC’s Technical Service team evaluated key areas of opportunity and collaborated with the producer to create actionable steps across each of the four pillars: 1. Genetic Advancements: Strengthening the Foundation A solid genetic foundation is crucial to addressing the complex challenges that affect sow longevity. PIC has made significant investments in accelerating genetic gain to enhance sow robustness. Reproduction, lameness, and POP are the top reasons sows leave the herd (PigCHAMP, 2023). Knowing this, PIC has introduced three industry-first selection EBVs directly impacting longevity: digital structure, reproductive success, and POP reduction. To optimize the genetic component of longevity, genetic selection at the multiplier level was accelerated, ensuring that only gilts with the greatest genetic potential for longevity entered the system. Additionally, sows identified as high-risk for POP were prioritized for culling. 2. Successful Parity 1 Development Most instances of removals, both through culling or death, happen between parity 1 and 2. Key interventions focused on female development through her first parity (P1) were implemented to help prevent removals: Gilt Development Unit Enhancements: · Improved selection intensity started with optimized stocking density. This ensured the largest gilt pool at selection. From that large, high-quality gilt pool, only the best gilts were selected, increasing IN SOW ROBUSTNESS Delivering Practical Improvements A data-driven approach to improving sow retention and productivity. Juan Orozco, DVM, MAB; Erik Darrington; Jorge Cajamarca, DVM
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