Baby Pig Management

SwineCare and management of the sow

signs at farrowing nervous and uneasy enlarged vulva mucouse discharge milk letdown pawing (making a bed)

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Care and management is major influence on number of pigs weaned

PigCHAMP records – 12.27% preweaning mortality

Leading causes of preweaning deaths Laid on by sow (approx. 50%) Starvation (approx. 20%)

Over half of deaths occur during first 2-3 days after farrowing

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Two Classes of Piglets at Birth Normal

Up and moving quickly Nursing within 10-15 minutes Thrive without much help

Disadvantaged Lightweight – less than 2½ to 2¾ pounds Slow in getting to the udder Chilled – thermal requirements not met Weakened during the birth process

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Goals 3 to 3.5# pig birth weight – best odds for

survival to weaning Small pigs have higher “surface area” relative

to their body weight (lose heat rapidly) < 10% preweaning mortality Weaning weight

3-week weaning -- > 12 lbs. 4-week weaning -- > 16 lbs.

The Newborn Pig Has no antibodies against

pathogens No transfer of antibodies

prepartum Colostrum only way of

getting passive immunity

The Newborn Pig Has only 1-2% body fat

little insulation to prevent body heat loss

Limited ability for gluconeogenesis Cannot produce glucose from AA

or glycerol

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The Newborn Pig, cont.

Glycogen stores lasts for less than 24 h Needs energy right away

Limited ability to regulate body temp. Needs additional heat

Born wet looses more body heat

Normal Born Piglets Normal pigs will be on their feet

within 1-2 min after being born Within 2-5 min they will be

suckling The first born piglets will get

most colostrum Between meal, piglets will sleep Normal piglets don’t need much

care

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Baby Pigs Shortly After Birth

First 12 Hours Learn to walk, find a teat, learn to nurse Stay close to the udder

Second Day Front teats are preferred

Greater milk supply Lower incidence of mastitis Less chance of being kicked by sow

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Colostrum First and highest quality milk – quality declines

over time Drops by 50% within 6 hours

Disease-preventing immunity Most important factor in piglet’s survival and long-

term health First-born piglets “hog” the best colostrum Assist disadvantaged piglets Collect colostrum and “tube” disadvantaged

piglets

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Factors Limiting Colostrum Intake

Cold stress right after birth Large litters which limit access to teats Poor nutrition of the sow – fat improves

quality of milk Cold environment that keeps pigs inactive

and huddled for warmth

Weak Piglets Often born last in litter

get less colostrum Often have low birth weight

difficulty competing for teat receive less colostrum

Deprived of oxygen

It takes a dedicated herdsman to secure survival of weak piglets

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How to help weak piglets

Help them get started suckling Stomach feed with colostrum or

milkreplacer (or cow colostrum) 15-20 ml per feeding warm to 35oC

Inject glucose intraperitoneal 15 - 20 ml per injection warm to 35oC

Avoid Chilling Cold pigs can be warmed in

water dry them afterwards

Zone heating essential 32-33oC (heat lamp)

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Crossfostering Lowest preweaning mortality is in heaviest

birth weight litters with lowest variation Use crossfostering to even up litters and

match number of pigs with the sow’s ability to raise them

Management Tips Colostrum from their dam before moving Crossfoster with 24-48 hours to maintain teat

order Standardize by number and size

Crossfostering/Standardizing

Reduce weight variation in litters

Match number of piglets to sows ability to nurse usually 10-12 pigs/sow

All small pigs are placed on the same sow

Crossfostering, cont. Not before 12 h

All pigs should have had colostrum from dam

Not after 48 h Piglets establish teat identity

after 48 h Later crossfostering increases

spread of diseases

The more pigs that can stay with their mother, the better it is.

Nurse sows: Used if average number of liveborns is higher than average holding capacity of sows

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Nurse sows, new borns

Use 2nd. Litter sow - 14 d past farrowing

Wean her own piglets Give new 24-48 h old pigs to

this sow Give Oxytocin before

introducing piglets

Nurse sows, older pigs

Pigs in a litter that are starving should be moved to nurse sow

Runt pigs at weaning can be placed on nurse sow

Same procedure for selecting nurse sowsMake sure that nurse pigs don’t compromise overall health status

Bench marking for mortality

On the best farms, pre-weaning mortality is between 6 an 9 %

Processing of new born piglets and daily

management

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Processing Piglets Process varies from farm to farm Clipping needle teeth Treating umbilical cord Iron Tail docking Identification Scours prevention/treatment Castration

Processing, Day 1/ within 24 hours

Medication IPD 1.5 cc

Number with a majic marker Take birth weight Umbilical cord disinfection

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Processing, Day 1after 24 hours

Teeth clipping Tail docking Tape spray legged

pigs Ear notching

Ear Notching- Swine

Ear Notching- Swine

Swine ReproductionEar Notching

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Universal Ear Notching System

Right ear = litter

Left ear = pig

Swine ReproductionEar Notching

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Swine ReproductionEar Notching

Quiz

Swine ReproductionEar Notching

The right (litter) ear is equal to 9+3+3+1=16

The left (pig) ear is equal to 3

This is the 16-3 pig.

Processing, Day 3-5 Castration Scours ???

Needle Teeth Clipping

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Early Castration Less stress, less bleeding, less tissue

damage One person can perform the operation

alone Young pigs heal faster and cleaner than

older pigs May be stressful to weak pigs Castration may result in infection if pigs are

scouring

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Baby Pig Anemia

Pig is born with low body stores of Fe Born with 40 mg, uses 7 mg daily

Sow’s milk is low in Fe content Attempts to increase are not successful

No contact with soil in today’s systems Rapid growth of baby pig

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Preweaning Growth Rate

0

500

1000

0 6Weeks

% I

ncre

ase

in B

irth

Wei

ght

Pig

Lamb

Calf, colt,child

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Symptoms of Anemia Poor growth Listlessness, weak Rough hair coat Pale Labored breathing Prevention

Oral iron Injection – usually 200 mg

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Baby Pig Scours Big production headache Watery feces, wet tails, dehydration Viruses still cause major problems

TGE, rotavirus (combination with other pathogens) E. coli – most common cause of scours

Affect the intestines, causing diarrhea Cause significant death loss Vaccinate sows with strain on the farm AIAO, sanitation Various treatment regimens

Daily Management Get all piglets up and running

around Look for diarrhea Look for pigs that are limping Look for pigs that are starving Look for pigs that stay under

the heat lamp

Daily Management, cont. Treat sick pigs immediately Use effective antibiotics Grow strains to check

efficiency Move pigs that are starving to

nurse sow Keep pen clean

Common diseases in nursery pigs

Diarrhea Joint problems Strep Suis Undernurished

Keep track of mortality

Record number of pigs dead in each litter

On a weekly basis, record number of pigs dead in farrowing room

Record reasons why each piglet died

Make decisions on how to improve management

Managing the Weaning Weight

Improving the weaning weights

Pigs with high weaning weights are easier to wean grow faster after weaning are less likely to get sick requires less expensive feed

Objectives for weaning weights

Age 15 d 18 d 21 d 25 d 28 d

Kg 4.8 Lbs ????

5.4 6.0 6.8 7.5

Ways to improve weaning weights

Improve milk yield of sow add fat to lactation diet feed tree times a day liquid feed the sow if possible cull sows with low milk yield avoid fat sows in farrowing barn Wet feed with water

Ways to improve weaning weights, cont.

Crossfoster and manage according to protocol

Reduce disease pressure as much as possible

Assist weak and small piglets if needed Milk replacer to small pigs

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Creep Feeding Sow’s milk usually declines at 12-

16 days Start at 10 – 12 days Use palatable feed – flavoring

agents Make water available Feed on mat or in shallow pan and

keep fresh Some debate on value if pigs are

weaned at < 21 days

Creep Feeding Use phase 1 pre-starter diet Start around day 8 or 10 ??? Feed in little trough under

heat lamp Feed 2 times a day Keep clean all time Helps piglets get used to

dry feed

Water Always have fresh and

clean water available for piglets From water cup

let run at all times

Split Weaning Wean 1 or 2 biggest pigs

after 14 d Give more room and milk

for remaining pigs in litter Can improve litter weaning

weights.

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Records Farrowing date Total number, NBA Pedigree information, teat count Number weaned Birth weight, weaning weight Medications given Observation notes

Sow’s disposition Possible replacement females