Stillbirths, Mummies, Abortions, and Early Embryonic Death

Stillbirths, mummies, abortions, and early embryonic deaths account for a significant percentage of total mortality on swine farms. The type of fetal death that occurs largely depends on the time of fetal insult during gestation. Epidemics of fetal death are often caused by infectious agents that act directly on the fetus and/or placenta, or indirectly through maternal illness and loss of pregnancy control. Noninfectious causes of fetal death, including environmental factors, individual sow factors, nutrition, and toxicities, are difficult to diagnose and treat but occur regularly in most breeding herds.