Using the Biocheck.UGent™ scoring tool in Irish farrow-to-finish pig farms: assessing biosecurity and its relation to productive performance

Table 3 Multivariable linear regression modelling of herd productive performance^a

Outcome	Predictor	Estimate	SE	P-value
Piglet mortality, %	Intercept	12.04	1.334	< 0.001
Adjusted R² = 0.08	Age of the youngest building, years	0.13	0.066	0.067
P = 0.039	Score for feed, water, and equipment supply	−0.04	0.023	0.079
Finisher mortality, %	Intercept	1.50	0.683	0.032
Adjusted R² = 0.23	No. of sows [per 100 sows]	0.8	0.21	< 0.001
P = 0.002	Score for disease management	−0.01	0.006	0.028
	Score for environment and region	0.01	0.005	0.059
	Score for nursery unit management	0.02	0.008	0.050
	Score for measures between compartments and use of equipment	−0.01	0.008	0.126
ADG, g/day	Intercept	706.27	37.734	< 0.001
Adjusted R² = 0.16	No. of sows	−0.03	0.0133	0.043
P = 0.006	Experience of farm manager, years	−1.65	0.734	0.029
P = 0.006	Score for disease management	0.73	0.343	0.039

^aEach productive performance indicator (piglet mortality (%), finisher mortality (%), number of pigs per sow per year, ADG (g/day), and FCR) was modelled from herd characteristics and biosecurity scores (categories), presented in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. The table presents the final models after a forward regression approach with a cut-off value of 0.15 for predictor retention. The models fitting the number of pigs per sow per year and FCR were not significant (overall F-test with P = 0.067 and P = 0.075, respectively)

ISSN: 2055-5660