Economic aspects of common health and fertility problems for the individual pig producer: An overview

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Abstract
The income margin in modern pig farming is generally narrow. Controlling the cost of production, therefore, is of great importance. Improving health and fertility can play a major role in this context. In this paper three interrelated issues are discussed from a farm management point of view: (1) the financial losses of common health and fertility problems, (2) the costs and benefits of disease control, and (3) the decision to replace individual sows in case of poor health and/or reduced productive performance. Priorities for further research in the field of animal health economics are also discussed.