# Factors Influencing Reproductive Performance in Austrian Sow Farms Challenged by Reproductive Disorders

## TL;DR

This study identifies farm management factors affecting sow fertility in Austrian pig farms, showing that larger farms and specific practices like PRRS-negative status and all-in/all-out systems improve reproductive outcomes.

## Contribution

The study introduces a survey-based approach to identify easily observable farm management factors influencing sow reproductive performance.

## Key findings

- Larger farms and PRRS-negative status correlate with higher farrowing rates.
- All-in/all-out systems in farrowing pens increase the number of weaned piglets.
- Older teaser boars and lack of hormonal induction are linked to higher return-to-estrus rates.

## Abstract

Poor reproductive performance remains one of the most common and economically significant challenges in piglet-producing herds. A wide range of infectious but more frequently non-infectious influences—including herd management, genetic predisposition, and environmental stressors—can negatively affect sow fertility. The aim of this study was to identify easily assessable factors associated with reproductive disorders in sows by means of a structured oral survey. To this end, forty Austrian piglet-producing farms (35–2000 sows), all experiencing ongoing reproductive issues, were visited and evaluated using a comprehensive questionnaire addressing key aspects of herd management, housing, farrowing management, and biosecurity. Several management-related factors were identified as being linked to impaired reproductive performance. These included overall herd size, the age and use of the teaser boar, and multiple biosecurity-related practices at both internal and external levels. The findings underscore that many influential factors are readily observable during routine farm visits and can therefore be targeted for improvement without the need for complex diagnostics. This study highlights the importance of systematic on-farm assessment to detect management shortcomings contributing to reproductive problems and supports the implementation of targeted, farm-specific interventions to enhance sow fertility.

Many piglet-producing farms are facing poor reproductive performance, yet their characteristics remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to reproductive disorders based on information easily identifiable through an oral survey. Therefore, forty Austrian piglet producing farms (35–2000 sows) were surveyed using a questionnaire mainly addressing management, treatment and prophylaxis. Five key performance indicators (KPIs) were defined to assess farm productivity: farrowing rate, return-to-estrus rate, abortion rate, total piglets born per litter, and piglets weaned per litter. Farrowing rates were significantly higher in larger farms (r = 0.368; p = 0.019), PRRS-negative farms (r = 0.415; p = 0.008), and farms that did not clean the vulva before artificial insemination (r = 0.357; p = 0.024). Return-to-estrus rates were significantly higher in smaller farms (r = −0.431; p = 0.006), farms with more vaginal discharge after farrowing (r = 0.397; p = 0.011), those not using hormonal farrowing induction (r = 0.339; p = 0.033), and farms with older teaser boars (r = 0.385; p = 0.039). Larger farms had more piglets born per litter (r = 0.342; p = 0.031) and weaned more piglets (r = 0.391; p = 0.013). Weaned piglet numbers were also higher in farms with all-in/all-out implementation in farrowing pens (r = 0.353; p = 0.026), with restricted access of other animal species to the barn (r = 0.366; p = 0.028) and hormonal farrowing induction (r = 0.348; p = 0.028). Common well-established strategies for improving fertility performance like evaluation of body temperature after farrowing, antimicrobial, and hormonal treatments showed limited relevance. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to identify additional factors influencing reproductive performance of sows.