Autumn abortions in sows.

This report describes the diagnosis and management of autumn abortions in a commercial swine herd in Ontario. A consistent pattern of abortions in the fall (and to a lesser extent, winter and spring) months was established from the herd records of 1980 to 1982. The percent abortions (of all farrowings) was 2.2, 3.7 and 4.3 for the years 1980, 1981 and 1982 respectively. Since laboratory examinations did not identify a specific pathogen, the management and the environment were investigated. In December 1982, supplemental heat was provided in the gestation barn to counteract heat losses at the level of the pregnant sows. The percent abortions was reduced to 0.4 over the next 12 months.