CHANGES IN SOW BACKFAT THICKNESS BEFORE AND AFTER FARROWING IN A LOCAL SWINE NUCLEUS BREEDING FARM

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate changes in backfat measurements before and after farrowing of 117 Landrace and 211 Large White sows producing 312 and 268 litters, respectively, and to assess whether they are associated with sow reproductive performance commonly recorded in a local swine nucleus breeding farm. Sow backfat thickness decreased by 3.06 mm, 2.76 mm, 3.00 mm, and 2.94 mm at the shoulder (BFT1), midback (BFT2), ham area (BFT3), and their average (AvBFT), respectively, when measured 15.5 ± 6.1 d before farrowing and 24.4 ± 4.1 d after farrowing. Reduction in backfat levels (due to greater backfat loss during lactation than backfat gain during gestation), was significantly associated with the number of stillbirths (r= +0.09 to +0.13) for BFT1, BFT2 and AvBFT, litter size at birth (r= -0.08 to -0.09) for BFT2 and AvBFT, and farrowing interval (r= -0.11) for BFT3. There was no significant association (P>0.05) between changes in backfat levels and parity, litter size at birth, mummified piglets, birth weight, weaning weight, farrowing index, and sow productivity index. Reduction in backfat thickness was significantly affected by breed especially when measured at the shoulder and midback area (P<0.05). Reduction in all backfat measurements was also significantly affected by month-year of farrowing (P<0.01).