Present sows

They are all those sows that are in the farm (occupying a space and eating compound feed). When a future sow arrrives at our farm it is then considered as a present sow. Due to this, this term includes the sows that are waiting to be mated for the first time (replacement gilts) and the sows that we have decided to cull but that are waiting to be sent to the abattoir. As in the case of the present animals, this parameter does not include the growing females that will be sent to the abattoir (it only bears in mind the breeding females or the future breeding females). Nevertheless, in those farms in which the replacement sows are selected amongst the pigs produced (farms with a self-replacement), the sow is considered as present since the moment in which it is selected in order to be a future mother.