Minnesota's Swine & U

Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Hello and welcome to Minnesota's Swine and U Podcast Series. A University of Minnesota Extension Swine program.
Today's Podcast is a research update on sow mortality in Midwestern U.S.A. Pig production: reasons for removal and factors associated with increased mortality.
My name is Sarah Schieck Boelke, your host and I'm a Swine Extension Educator with the University of Minnesota
Joining me today is Mariana Kikuti, who is a researcher in the department of Veterinary Population Medicine.
To get us started today, Mariana, will you tell us a little bit about yourself, including who you worked with on this research project?

Mariana Kikuti:
Yeah. So first thank you for having me here, Sarah. As you said, my name is Mariana. I have been working as an epidemiologist for swine diseases since 2018, more or less. And then for this project. I was working with our research group in the MSHMP (Morrison Swine Health Monitoring Program) program, mostly with doctor Cesar Corzo. But we also work with other researchers, such as Dr. John Deen, Dr. Juan Carlos Pinilla, and Dr. Guilherme Milanez Preis.

Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Very good, Thank you. And I know I mentioned you know the research topic that we'll be talking about today. But can you explain a little bit more about the research that you'll be sharing with us today.

Mariana Kikuti:
Yeah. So this project that we're going to be discussing today is regarding our work on the several factors that are associated with sow mortality here in the U.S. particularly.

Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Yeah, and I know in the past few years sow mortality is kind of, I don't know, If you want to say like a hot topic in the pork industry is that something that farms have struggled with. So it it's great that you and your colleagues are working on this, and I also know that there's other universities that are also looking at sow mortality as well. So thank you for your work in this area.
Mariana Kikuti:
No, I was just gonna add that we are trying to look at mortality in kind of different perspective, right. So most of the the work that has been done is usually looking at removal records in the short period of time. So we are trying to look at this several different ways. So I’m excited to share this with you.

Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Before we get too far, I want to make sure that our funding source is recognized because, as those of us involved in research, we know that it can't be possible without our funding source to help fund the research. So can you share what was the funding source for this project?

Mariana Kikuti:
So the funding source for this project was mostly PIC, so Pig Improvement Company, North America. And then it was also secondarily offered by SHIC (Swine Health Information Center) through the funding that they provide through MSHMP.

Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Great, thank you for recognizing those funding sources.
So are you able to provide us with a brief introduction to this research, explaining why it was a valuable project to do?

Mariana Kikuti:
Yeah, so as you said sow mortality has been a growing concern in the industry for the past few decades. And then we wanted to look at the mortality data, but trying to look at environmental, farm level, or individual level that are factors that are associated with sow mortality. So we were both looking at the weekly percentage of sows deaths but we were also trying to look at the individual risk of sow dying for whatever reason throughout their lifetime. Right? So we were both looking at number of sows that died, but also what was the reason for the sow itself to have a high risk of dying.

Sarah Schieck Boelke: Hmm.
And as we know in the industry there can be a long list of reasons as to the reasons for sow mortality.
So can you briefly explain to us, how did you go about completing this research project?

Mariana Kikuti:
So the main data set that we use for this was mortality records for over a decade. So from 2009 to 2018 in four farrow to wean farms in one particular region, the Midwest in the U.S.
So we looked at this huge amount of time and then we describe the sows, that according to which month they record more, how many days from last service, how many days from last farrow, what is the parity of the animal is removed. And we also looked a little bit at reasons for removal as well. But I think, what's different about this work is that we try to model the number of sow deaths per week according to the decent potential associated factors, right? Whether that was environmental or anything related to the farm itself. And again, we also model the sows’ individual rish of dying according to the different factors. Those are the two kind of different things that we did in this study in terms of methods.

Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Thank you for explaining that. So if I understood correctly, basically you looked at the records that the farm had, was that correct?

Mariana Kikuti:
Yeah. So we looked at the records to identify which sow died, and how, and the reason that they died, and whatever information that the sow had at the time, like parity. But then we use the total inventory to try to estimate what was associated with the sow dying or remaining alive for this period.

Sarah Schieck Boelke:
As you and I were chatting before we started to record. I mentioned in my position you know, I certify producers in Pork Quality Assurance. And one of the things we talk about during that certification is the importance of record keeping. Including, you know, not only treatments and medication records, but also mortality records. And so yeah, I often explain the reason why those are important, because then they can be looked at later to help the farm, you know, find trends or reasons for mortalities. So this is a really good example of how those records can be used to help with such things.

Mariana Kikuti:
And then, I don't know if I’m getting ahead of myself too much, but I think the other thing that we wanted to do here is not only use the mortality record. So again we use the whole inventory to try to use that as a data set and see what was associated with the risk of dying. Because, again, if we only look at the mortality record, we are losing the information of the ones that went through all of those diseases, for example, but survive right. So we need to look at the whole inventory instead of just the mortality records. But the quality of the records are really important for us to be able to do that.

Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Yes, you are correct. So thank you for further explaining that.
And again getting back to the producers that, and you know the workers that keep these records in barns like you mentioned, The quality of those records is very important as an example of your research project.
Now that you shared with us how you went about doing this, this research, Can you share what were the results of this study?

Mariana Kikuti:
Yeah, So, we found that most of the deaths occurred around 116 days from the last service, or 26 days postpartum, so usually most of the reported deaths are going to be in the peripartum phase, right.
Most of the deaths recorded, the sows are parity, one or 2 at most. And then we found also that the overall reason for that was locomotion and reproduction rate. So both of those together compile about 50 % of the reasons for removal due to death.
And then this is again just describing the mortality record. But looking at the week for a higher weekly number of sows, for example, we found that a higher number of deaths was associated with springs compared to winter. Meaning that most of the deaths occurring into more likely to spring. This could be potentially associated with heat, right. Because of farms especially in the Midwest, It's coming from a very harsh winter. So by the time you are able to adjust temperatures in the barn, and things like that, the potential risk for death could be higher.
And then looking at the individual risk of a sow dying, we saw as well that being exposed to at least 1 PRRS outbreak throughout her lifetime increases their risk of dying, which makes sense right. They're exposed to more infectious diseases, they are more likely to die, potentially. And then we also found that they had an increase rate of dying if they were housed in groups, then in, during gestations compared to individual pens and that could be potentially because of the stress of mixing the animals when they are adults already. So they hierarchy that they have to established again, so that could potentially be an issue.
And then, on the other hand, we also found that if sows are housed at farm that were filter. They've had a lower risk of dying, and that is potentially, because, you know, they were introducing less disease pressure in the farm.
So that's pretty much a summary of all of the findings that we had.

Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Thank you for giving that summary.
So based off of those results that you did share, what conclusions can be made?

Mariana Kikuti:
So I think the peripartum remains a very important phase for sow mortality, right? We saw that most of the deaths occur around that phase. So it's a critical phase that we need to pay attention to.
And then in general efforts to reduce infectious disease pressure or manage environmental stressors could also potentially reduce mortality, Right? So any of these environmental stressors that we're introducing in farms, If we can reduce them, we can potentially reduce mortality as well.

Sarah Schieck Boelke:
And so based off of those conclusions that you just shared, what are some important takeaways for your study. Meaning like if it's maybe recommendations for those working on the farms or maybe there's other takeaways from those results.

Mariana Kikuti:
I think you know the points that we raise with this study show that we have room to improve in terms of you know the stress that we put the animals through, or at least the phases that we need to be a little bit more cautious with. And it is estimated that about 3 to 5 parities are necessary for you to get an investment return in an animal. And right now, as we saw, most deaths are occurring up to parity two. So we have, you know we have some room there that we can improve to try to get a better return. But also, you know, as those factors that I mentioned, they usually involve either health management or environmental management. We are also improving welfare for those animals.

Sarah Schieck Boelke:
So to wrap up our discussion here about this research project, do you have any other comments that you would like to make before we end. Or maybe it's, you know something you forgot to say earlier, or maybe it's something I forgot to ask you.

Mariana Kikuti:
Oh, I think one thing that I would like to like to raise attention to in the end of this podcast is something that we were discussing earlier, which is actually data completion and information accuracy, right. Those can be really important, particularly because we are using production data that is not necessarily standard for those type of analysis. So before not necessarily thinking, you know, I'm gonna do this with this, so I need to be careful to record my data consistently and the most accurately as possible. They are just trying to, you know, record information that will help them manage production. So we do have a very limited opportunity there in terms of what can we use from data that was already collected. So if we pay attention to what we're already generating on the on the day to day activities this would potentially benefit us in the future. I think that would be really important. But then, again, the other thing that I think is important is that, if we look again only at the deaths we are going to lose information about what the sows that least were exposed to, right. So we need to also be better effort in terms to monitor and record data on exposure to the other diseases or other potential risk factors, anything that would perhaps help us a little bit more of what made those sows survive as well. All right. We don't only want to see the deaths. So for that, I think taking care or paying a lot of attention to data accuracy, but also thinking about collecting data prospectively and thinking, you know what can you potentially use in the future. I think it's really important if you really want to understand what is associated with the sow dying or surviving a certain stress. So I think that's the last thing I would like to touch on before we finish.

Sarah Schieck Boelke:
Yeah, I think those are really great reminders. Like you mentioned, yeah, on the farm, you know, not always thinking about research. They're, you know, obviously thinking more about production. But again, some of those issues that they have with production, your research can help answer those questions. And so goes back to the quality of that data which in this case would be the, you know, consistency and quality of those records that they keep on farm. So you and your colleagues are able to look at them from a research standpoint to help answer some of those production questions.
Well, I want to thank you, Mariana, for sharing your research on sow mortality in Midwest U.S.A. Pig production: reasons for removal, and factors associated with increased mortality.

Mariana Kikuti:
Perfect, Thank you so much, Sarah!

Sarah Schieck Boelke:
And I want to thank those who are listening to the University of Minnesota Swine & U Podcast, this has been Sarah Schieck Boelke, Swine Extension Educator, along with a Mariana Kikuti, a researcher in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine.
To further connect with the University and Minnesota Swine Extension, please visit the Swine specific web pages on University of Minnesota Extension’s website at www.extension.umn.edu/swine. And on those pages you'll find connections to our blog as well as our Facebook Page.
To further learn about research being done by our swine faculty in veterinary medicine. Please visit their Swine in Minnesota blog at www.umnswinenews.com.