Netherlands: 27.3 weaned piglets per sow per year

Published: April 20, 2009

Source : TOPIGS newsletter

In 2008, Dutch pig farmers using TOPIGS genetics achieved an average production of 27.3 weaned piglets per sow per year. This is an increase of 0.9 piglets compared to 2007. The top 10% of farms managed an impressive 30.7 piglets per sow The increased production is due to an increased litter size. In 2007 this was still 12.8 whereas in 2008 this was 13.1. For further data please see the table below. The data were collected from 1006 Dutch sow farms with a total of almost 415,000 sows.

	Number of farms	Sows present	Litter index	Weaned piglets p. sow p. yr	Live births p. litter	Pre weaning mort. (%)	Weaned piglets p. litter
Top 10% 2008	101	506	2.46	30.7	13.8	10.6	12.3
Average 2008	1006	412	2.37	27.3	13.1	12.3	11.4
Average 2007	942	391	2.37	26.4	12.8	12.1	11.2

These data prove the tremendous genetic potential of the TOPIGS sow and the immense genetic progress TOPIGS achieves. Moreover, these figures demonstrate that the balanced breeding approach of TOPIGS works. The number of piglets born per litter increased from 12.1 in 2004 to 13.1 in 2008. In the same period the preweaning litter mortality increased by just 0.5% to 12.3%.

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