ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE COMPONENTS OF PRODUCTION AND LIFETIME PRODUTIVITY OF SOWS

Abstract

The objective of this review was to describe environmental factors that influence the production and productivity components during the stay of the sows in the herd. The sow productivity can be measured as the number or kilograms of pigs born alive and weaned per litter, per year or during the stay in the herd. The effect of year and farm are important sources of variation, are mainly due to climatic changes and differences in management. The effect of season in tropical regions is due to heat stress and high humidity in the hot season. The first parity sows have intervals between farrowing and weaning to conception intervals larger and smaller litters compared to sows. Productivity during the productive life is affected by handling each farm, age and the number of piglets born at first farrowing and cause waste. Most studies are in temperate zones. In conclusion, the productivity of sows is affected by different climatic conditions of each region and management differences between farms in different years and season, as well as by the number of parity, so it is important to characterize the specific conditions of each farm or region.