This paper deals with the changes of work in pig farms, either the research of increased labour productivity or the control of work load distribution within the week. We hypothesise that the increase in labour productivity might have induced a simplification of
reproduction management or have consequences on the
herd productivity.We also hypothesise that, as in the other
production systems, the pig farmers have various
preferences when considering the work in odd hours and
in weekends. These various preferences may be related to
different reproduction managements and may affect the
herd productivity. To test these hypotheses, we have
carried out a survey with stockbreeders who had various
batch farrowing systems and herd size, so presumably a
large variety of management practices and labour
effectiveness. This study suggests that labour productivity was
linked to the size of the farrowing batches through a
scale economy. But this paper describes more the
diversity in the operational achievement of reproduction
management. It suggests that this management can be a
critical point to consider when changes in preferences as
to work load distribution occur and confirms the
relationship with sow productivity.