The cycle index, an alternative to the farrowing index converted to a yearly basis.
The farrowing index is an important parameter for the evaluation of sow productivity. The value of the farrowing index calculated over a relatively short period of time and converted to a yearly basis, depends largely on the number of litters produced during this period. Random differences in the numbers of litters produced in subsequent periods will strongly influence the farrowing indices of these periods. The cycle index is designed to obtain a more valuable and consistent parameter. The cycle index is based on reproductive data of sows that farrowed during a certain period and the number of production days lost because of culling of sows during that period.
D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D005260:Female; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors