PRINCIPAIS CAUSAS DE MORTALIDADE DE LEITÕES NA FASE DE MATERNIDADE EM SISTEMA DE PRODUÇÃO DE SUÍNOS EM CICLO COMPLETO

Abstract

The knowledge of piglet mortality main causes in the maternity phase has become a challenge for modern pig farming, since the production efficiency indexes of the pig sector are directly related to the number of piglets weaned per female per year. Among the infectious causes, the disease of edema, arthritis, meningitis, encephalitis, respiratory diseases and diarrhea stand out. Non-infectious causes include anemia, rectal prolapse, problems resulting from castration, the female aggression, suffocation in childbirth, anomalies, low viability and crushing. There should be a greater concern with piglets in the maternity phase, because the susceptibility to diseases is higher at this age. The objective of this work was to evaluate the main causes of piglet deaths from birth to weaning in a commercial farm with full cycle production, through the analysis of the main component divided by days of life of piglets. It is necessary to improve several aspects of the farm, in order to avoid losses, such as investments in facilities, adequate nutrition, guidance and training of employees and proper management.