The aim this study is to assess the effects of environmental, management, housing and temporal factors on two production parameters that impact the costs in all-in all-out swine fattening systems: mortality and feed consumed per marketed hog. The study also aims to estimate the contribution of the finishing herd and batch to the total variability of mortality and feed consumed per marketed hog. The study, conducted under ‘real field’ conditions, confirmed the negative effect of non-pelleted feed on average feed intake per marketed hog. The considerable effect of particular origin farms on mortality risk suggest including this data on further research. A high level of care provided by the farmers to the pigs contributed to reduce the risk of mortality. Both mortality and feed performance were influenced by the season and the year but the effect of the year on feed intake was modified by the average final weight of the batch and its level of mortality. Our results suggest that a constant effect of ‘the farm itself’ on mortality would be small or non-existent. On the other hand, by investigating and improving permanent farm characteristics a substantial profit is expected in the long run as a result of lower feed costs. However management factors at the individual batch level had the greatest impact on mortality and feed intake in all-in-all-out fattening farms. Also, uncertainty about mortality and feed intake tended to be higher in cold template periods than in other months. 

For more information the full article can be found at http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.com/periodicals/livsci