Table 3

Descriptive statistics by reproductive stage for 96 post mortem examined sows/gilts found dead or euthanised

Reproductive stage
Type of death
Most common PAD1 category

Unmated gilts
(n = 14) 14.6%
Found dead (n = 3) 21%
Circulatory/cardiac failure (n = 3)

Euthanasia (n = 11) 79%
Arthritis (n = 8)
Weaning to service
(n = 23) 24.0%
Found dead (n = 1) 4%
Heart/lung inflammatory reaction

Euthanasia (n = 22) 96%
Arthritis (n = 8)


Fracture (n = 6)


Osteochondrosis (n = 4)
< 28 d gestation
(n = 10) 10.4%
Found dead (n = 0)
-

Euthanasia (n = 10) 100%
Arthritis (n = 4)


Fracture (n = 2)
≥28 d gestation2
(n = 36) 37.5%
Found dead (n = 9) 25%
Not established (n = 3)


Heart/lung inflammatory reaction (n = 2)


Trauma miscellaneous (n = 2)

Euthanasia (n = 27) 75%
Arthritis (n = 10)


Osteochondrosis (n = 4)


Abscess in spinal cord (n = 4)
With litter
(n = 13) 13.5%
Found dead (n = 4) 31%
Gastrointestinal inflammat. react. (n = 2)


Trauma miscellaneous (n = 2)

Euthanasia (n = 9) 69%
Arthritis (n = 5)


Osteochondrosis (n = 3)

1 PAD = pathological-anatomical diagnosis

2 includes 12 inseminated gilts

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