title: An analysis of mortality in the grower/finisher phase of swine production in the United States.
abstract: Over a 6-month period, the mean mortality risk (based on 393 operations participating in the United States National Animal Health Monitoring System 1995 National Swine Study, and representing operations with > or = 300 market hogs in 16 states), was 2.3 +/- 0.2% in the grower/finisher production phase (where figures after the +/- represent the standard error of the estimate). Mortality > or = 4% was experienced by 13.5 +/- 2.9% of grower/finisher operations, while 63.6 +/- 5.3% had < or = 2% mortality. To identify factors associated with > or = 4% mortality, stepwise logistic regression [Statistical Analysis Systems, 1989. SAS/STAT User's Guide, Version 6, 4th edn, Vol. 2. SAS Institute, Cary, NC, 794 pp.] was performed twice: once using operations with all mortality rates, and again excluding operations with between 2% and 4% mortality. Final models were run with SUDAAN [Shah, B.V., Barnwell, B.G., Bieler, G.S., 1996. SUDAAN User's Manual, Version 6.40, 2nd edn. Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, 492 pp.] to take the sample design into account. In addition, SAS and SUDAAN logistic regression models were developed to analyze factors associated with > 2.3% mortality among grower/finisher pigs. Mean weaning age < or = 28 days entered all models as being associated with increased mortality in the grower/finisher unit. Not obtaining all grower/finisher pigs from farrowing units belonging to the operation was associated with > or = 4% mortality among grower/finisher swine. Not typically giving grower/finisher pigs antibiotics or other agents as disease-preventives or growth-promotants in the feed or water, and ranking producer organizations as very or extremely important sources of antibiotic information were associated with < or = 2.3% mortality in the grower/finisher phase.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA. wlosinger@aphis.usda.gov
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Losinger
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Corso
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006799:Housing, Animal; D016015:Logistic Models; D009026:Mortality; D011790:Quarantine / Q000662:veterinary; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013552:Swine; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents