GB sow productivity improving again

By Bethan Wilkins

Performance results for the twelve months ending March 2021 show the performance of GB sow herds picked up early this year.

Compared to the twelve months ending December 2020, trends have developed as follows:

For indoor sows, an increase in numbers born alive resulted in the number of pigs weaned per sow per year increasing to 27.7 piglets, with the top 10% achieving over 33.

For outdoor sows, an increase in litters per sow per year offset an increase in pre-weaning mortality, resulting in little change in the number of pigs weaned per sow per year, which averaged 24.5. The top 10% achieved over 28.

Increasing herd performance suggests the availability of finished pigs in the coming weeks is likely to remain above 2020 levels. However, mortality at later stages of production, and national sow numbers, are also key. This will be explored further in the next outlook report, which will be released at the end of July.

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