Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40711263›Full record

ArticleVeterinary sciences2025

Field Study on Sow Mortality in 15 Belgian Pig Farms.

Caroline Bonckaert, Charlotte Brossé, Tamara Vandersmissen, Nermin Caliskan, Ellen Buys, Ilias Chantziaras, Dominiek Maes

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Veterinary sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Caroline BonckaertAnimal Health Care Flanders, Hagenbroeksesteenweg 167, 2500 Lier, Belgium.
Charlotte BrosséAnimal Health Care Flanders, Hagenbroeksesteenweg 167, 2500 Lier, Belgium.
Tamara VandersmissenAnimal Health Care Flanders, Hagenbroeksesteenweg 167, 2500 Lier, Belgium.
Nermin CaliskanAnimal Health Care Flanders, Hagenbroeksesteenweg 167, 2500 Lier, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-8092-7660
Ellen BuysUnit of Porcine Health Management, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Ilias ChantziarasUnit of Porcine Health Management, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-5687-9577
Dominiek MaesUnit of Porcine Health Management, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-1149-9348

Funding

Federal Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment VPV-22-05
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sow mortality is a critical issue in intensive pig farming, impacting animal welfare, farm sustainability, and profitability. This study investigated the occurrence and causes of sow mortality on 15 Flemish sow farms, focusing on management practices, housing conditions, feeding strategies, and genetics. The average sow mortality rate across the farms was 11.4% in 2022, which decreased to 8.1% in 2023 following the implementation of targeted control measures. Necropsies performed on 100 deceased sows, coming from the 15 different farms, revealed that the primary causes of mortality were positional changes in internal organs (32%), arthritis (19%), and urogenital disorders (7%). Key recommendations to reduce sow mortality included optimizing sow health and body condition, improving housing and feeding management, and addressing genetic factors. The study highlights the multifaceted nature of sow mortality and the importance of a comprehensive approach to mitigate risks and improve sow welfare and productivity.

Indexed as

geneticsmanagementnecropsynutritionpig farmingsow mortality

Identifiers

PMID40711263
PMCPMC12300294

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.