Using modern computer programmes it should be easy to assess farrowing rate, litter size and pigs reared by pregnancy for each sow and the herd as a whole. This assists significantly in the decision to retain a sow for further breeding including:

• To maintain the mating programme. Losses here cannot be recovered.
• No gilts may be available that week for mating.
• Records show that in this herd performance in parities 6, 7 or 8 is acceptable.
• Records show that the numbers born in older sows compare favourably with the mean of gilts and second litter females.
• Individual sow records show which sows have a good breeding and rearing history.
• Records show farrowing rates in 7th parity sows are above 86%.