Benchmark USA 2025

6 www.pigchamp.com Spring 2025 using the R program to identify factors with each outcome. A total of 23 predictors were evaluated in each model, and trial ID was included as a random effect to account for the potential variations across different trials. The model-building process involved a manual stepwise forward selection approach, where interactions and confounders were tested based on biological relevance. Predictors with p-values below 0.05 were retained in the final model to ensure statistical significance. Pairwise comparison was tested using t-tests with Tukey-Kramer adjustment, considering p-values <0.05 as statistically significant. Results Risk factors associated with wean-to-estrus interval (WEI) included parity (P <0.001), piglets after cross-fostering (P = 0.01), ADFI in the first three days of lactation (P = 0.01), and lactation ADFI (P = 0.019), with the farrowing season as a confounder (P = 0.03), as shown in Figure 1. Sows with more than 15 piglets after cross-fostering had a 1.3-day increase in WEI (P = 0.01). Lactation ADFI <10 lbs. in the first three days was associated with a one-day increase in WEI (P <0.001). For subsequent farrowing, risk factors included litter size (P = 0.02), stillborn rate (P = 0.01), ADFI during the first week of lactation (P = 0.01), and body weight change (P = 0.01), as shown in Figure 2. Sows with at least one stillborn showed a 7% decrease in subsequent farrowing (P = 0.01), while those with more than 15 piglets after cross-fostering had a 12% decrease in farrowing rate (P = 0.02). Risk factors associated with subsequent total born included parity (P <0.0001), previous litter size (P = 0.01), piglet birthweight (P = 0.01), caliper change (P = 0.04), percentage of stillborn (P = 0.01), and interaction of sow body weight change and litter wean weight (P = 0.002), as shown in Figure 3. Sows that previously farrowed more than 14 piglets had, on average, one additional piglet in the subsequent litter (P = 0.01), whereas those with lower birth weights produced two more piglets. More than 5% of the stillborn (of the total born) were associated with a decrease of two pigs in subsequent farrowing (P = 0.01). Sows that gained at least one unit of caliper during lactation had two more piglets in subsequent litters vs. those that lost one unit of caliper. Conclusion This study identified relevant predictors of sow efficiency and performance. Overall, these predictors provide actionable insights for optimizing sow management, enabling targeted nutritional interventions and reproductive strategies to improve longevity, farrowing rates, and overall herd productivity. Risk factors associated with subsequent farrowing rate. The plot presents the effects of stillborn, lactation average daily feed intake (ADFI) the first seven days, piglets after cross-fostering, and body weight change on the subsequent farrowing rate. The bars represent the mean subsequent farrowing rate for each category, with error bars indicating the 95% upper confidence intervals. The letters above the bars indicate significant differences among groups. Categories that share at least one letter are not significantly different from each other, whereas those with distinct letters are statistically different (P <0.05). Figure 2 Risk Factors Associated with Subsequent Farrowing Rate

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