A Survey of Productivity and its Component Interrelationships in Canadian Swine Herds

Abstract

Sow and feeder pig productivity was measured in a representative sample of herds producing more than 1,000 pigs/yr in Ontario, Canada. Correlations between the various indicators of productivity were determined. There was a wide range between farms in sow productivity, in grower-finisher pig efficiency and in the efficiency of resource utilization. Larger herds made better use of available physical resources, as indicated by the greater number of pigs weaned per farrowing crate per year and the greater number of feeder pigs marketed per m² of feeder pen space per year. They also tended to have greater biological efficiency, as indicated by the greater number of pigs weaned per sow per year. Interrelationships among productivity variables were discussed. It was concluded that the potential for improvement of productivity in Canadian swine herds was great.