Sow Productivity on Commercial Pig Farms in the Republic of Macedonia

Original Scientific Article INTRODUCTION The pig productio n efficiency is mainly controlled by the performance of the reproductive herd (1). Reproduction in pigs is a very complex process and involves many factors such as diet, genetics, housing, social surroundings, temperature, diseases and management (2). Sow productivity is primary measured by the number of piglets born alive, pigs SOW PRODUCTIVITY ON COMMERCIAL PIG FARMS INTHE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA Branko Angjelovski 1 , Aleksandar Cvetkovikj 1 , Slavcho Mrenoshki 1 , Ivica Gjurovski 1 , Toni Dejanoski 2 , Toni Dovenski 1 1 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, R. Macedonia 2 Pig farm, ZZ Edinstvo, v. Chelopek, R. Macedonia Received 10 January 2014; Received in revised form 2 May 2014; Accepted 11 June 2014 The objectives of the present study were to determine the production performances of sows on commercial pig farms in the Republic of Macedonia, to compare the differences in sow productivity data between small and large farms and to examine interrelationships of key production parameters among farms with different sizes. The study was retrospectively based and included the annual (2012) analyzes of the sow productivity data in small (