Table 2

Descriptive statistics of sows/gilts found dead or euthanized


Found dead
Euthanised

Total number
32
98
Proportion of all removed during the study
3.9%
12.0%
Proportion of sows in production (SIP)
2.1%
6.5%
Post mortem examined
17
79
Proportion post mortem examined
53%
81%
Parity number, mean (min-max)
2.8 (0–7)
2.1 (0–7)
Weight (kg), mean (min-max)
220 (116–322)
176 (104–240)
Backfat depth (mm), mean (min-max)
19.8 (10–28)
15.7 (4–35)
Body score *, mean (min-max)
2.6 (1–3)
2.8 (1–4)
Medically treated a short time before death
29%
58%

* body score using a 5-grade scale (1 = cachectic; 3 = normal; 5 = obese).

Data were collected from January 22 to September 4 2006 from a large Swedish herd.

Engblom et al. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 2008 50:25   doi:10.1186/1751-0147-50-25