Swine reproduction, neonatal health and meaningful herd records
Define the reproductive event
Breeding, recognized pregnancy, abortion, return to service and farrowing are different recorded outcomes. A farrowing-rate calculation needs the appropriate service cohort and an explicit denominator; it is not the number of litters divided by every pig on the farm. Distinguish piglets born alive, stillborn, mummified and deaths after live birth. Changing a definition between recording periods can create an apparent improvement without changing biological performance.
Integrate reproductive failure with herd evidence
Gestation stage, litter pattern, dam illness, movements and exposure history help organize an infectious and noninfectious differential. Parvovirus, PRRS and other conditions can overlap in reproductive outcomes. Mummification alone does not identify one virus, and a positive PCR must be related to suitable specimens and the clinical question. Reproductive losses can also reflect nutrition, heat, boar fertility, breeding management or other factors. A single herd average can conceal a problem limited to one parity or service group.
Support the newborn through several mechanisms
Newborn piglets face demands for energy, warmth and passive immunity. Early access to suitable colostrum matters, but a group observation does not establish what every individual consumed. Competition, litter size, birth weight, sow behavior and lactation can affect access. A piglet that is cold or weak needs assessment rather than being assumed to have one isolated deficiency. Enteric disease can involve secretory effects, epithelial injury or other mechanisms, with age and specimen evidence contributing to interpretation.
Use interventions with clear limits
Cross-fostering and other management decisions should consider both individual welfare and pathogen movement. Moving animals between litters can alter exposure networks, so record the actual movements when interpreting an outbreak. Hormonal synchronization, assisted reproduction and obstetrical procedures require qualified assessment and current product and welfare rules; no universal injection schedule follows from a performance metric. Monitor the sow's condition and recovery, and distinguish nonproductive time from a biological diagnosis. Written calculations and case questions support reasoning but cannot replace examination, skilled farrowing care or a farm-specific veterinary programme.