Risk factors for piglet mortality in Danish organic sow herds

Summary in the original language of the document

High piglet mortality is a considerable problem in Danish organic sow herds. The aim of this study was to determine causes of preweaning mortality and to identify risk factors for piglet mortality within the Danish organic pig production. A large-scale study was performed in nine commercial Danish organic sow herds during a one-year period. Data included recordings on piglet mortality in 6000 litters. Moreover, 3000 piglets were necropsied in order to determine the cause of death. The results indicates that it is possible to achieve a lower piglet mortality in the future and that the Danish organic pig production and a high piglet mortality is not inevitably synonymous.