Culling: Removing Poor Performers from the Breeding Herd

Selection is not just about choosing the best animals — it is equally important to remove poor performers from the breeding herd. This process is called culling. ICAR (2020) recommends regular culling as part of a proper herd management programme.

Sows should be culled if they show any of the following:

• Failure to conceive after 3 consecutive services

• Consistently small litter size (less than 6 live piglets per litter)

• Poor mothering ability (crushing or rejecting piglets)

• Chronic lameness or foot problems

• Mastitis, metritis, or agalactia (MMA syndrome) that repeats in multiple parities (ICAR, 2016)

• Age above 6-7 parities (litters), as productivity tends to decline after this

BOARS

1. Infertile ones

2. Boars of over 5 years age

3. Irritable nature and nervous disposition

4. Over fat and too heavy, finds difficult to mount

5. Not true to breed

6. Cryptochid

7. Weak limbs

SOWS

1. Onethird of older sows annually

2. Gilts or sows not settled after 4 days breeding period

3. Nervous and irritable nature

4. Produce small litter

5. Sows with defective teats and poor milkers

6. Sows with small vulva is an indication of internal reproductive defects

7. Sows/gilts with inverted teats

8. Gilts and sows which do not meet the standard of meaty hogs