ONE of the keys to a successful sow herd is the quality of replacement gilts entered. Research funded by the pork checkoff and other studies clearly show that early-parity sows leave the breeding herd for either reproductive failure (encompassing numerous reproductive issues such as failure to cycle, failure to conceive, failure to farrow and other reproductive issues), or feet and leg soundness and locomotion issues. Most sows are culled after parity 3 for other reasons. Therefore, to get more sowsreaching the later parities, we need to focus on theissues that cause their removal in parities 1 through 3, viz. reproductive failure and feet and leg soundness. Additionally, the number of sows culled for reproductive problems may be overestimated. Often sows with feet and leg problems are not eager toget up and eat either in farrowing or gestation. This may be due to some foot injury, some feet and leg abnormality, and/or lack of structural soundness. Subsequently, the sow does not cycle in a timely manner, if she cycles at all, or she may not conceive. Producers will cull this animal and mark on her record as culled for "reproductive failure," when in reality the issue may have been feet and leg soundness or a foot injury issue.
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