Feeder unit environmental factors associated with partial carcass condemnations in market swine

Abstract The impact of feeder pig finishing unit environment on partial carcass condemnations was evaluated in two studies. In a case-control study, monitoring data from 40 farms were used in the analysis. The average partial carcass condemnation percentage of 23 case farms in 1987 was 6.7%, and that of 17 control farms was 1.3%. The following factors differed ( P R =0.63) included herd size, ammonia concentration and number of pigs per pen. In a follow-up study, a multiple regression model was developed to explain the impact of environmental factors on partial carcass condemnations in swine. Farms were selected by simple random sampling. The analysis included environmental data from 103 farms. Nine variables were significant ( P R 2 =0.51) included the following variables: geographic area, amount of bedding, maximum airflow in pens, water delivery from nipple, feeder, and feeding type.