It is for good reason we refer to the farrowing unit as the engine room of a farrow-to-finish farm. It is the unit that requires the most attention, but is also where the biggest difference can be made in terms of operating profit, writes Gareth Salmond, the divisional technical manager for swine at Meadow Feeds.
This article touches on some of the important aspects to consider within sow and piglet management around the farrowing process. At Meadow Feeds, we pride ourselves on supplying “More than just Feed”.
Sow transition
To achieve a successful farrowing period, the aim needs to be for the sow to transition smoothly from gestation to lactation. It is important to try and avoid any factors which may cause additional stress to the sow during this period.
Sows need time to adjust to their new environment after being moved into the farrow unit, therefore sows are generally moved 5-7 days before farrowing. Disruptions to feed and water intake during this period can have detrimental consequences and should be managed daily. Sows can be lazy and therefore ways to stimulate water intake are important. An average sow can drink 30 litres of water per day during lactation.
There are numerous feed management and nutritional concepts which can be effectively utilised to assist sows during the transition period. The major goals of transition feeding include meeting the changing nutrient demands of the sow from reproduction to lactation, maximizing piglet viability and survival, improving colostrum supply to piglets and supplying sufficient energy for the farrowing process.
Sow comfort
Sow comfort will have a direct effect on how the sow performs in the farrowing house. It is important to avoid any factors which may cause direct discomforts to the sow, such as uncomfortable temperatures, poor sow body condition, constipation, pain and uncomfortable flooring.
The farrowing process
Farrowing can be a painful experience; ensure that treatment and reduction of pain are being done correctly and timeously. Ensuring sows and piglets are comfortable and not stressed, will help piglets to suckle shortly after farrowing, promoting good milk production and udder health.
The farrow process is a very energetic activity, sows need to eat to farrow successfully. Farrowing should not last more than 5 hours, but in reality, it can vary greatly from one sow to another. Adequate water intake and ensuring adequate feed intake of a well-balanced diet, consisting of the correct energy sources, fibre inclusions, amino-acid levels and dietary cation-anion balance, will help reduce the farrow duration and increase piglet livability.
Prioritise the first three days for piglets after birth
The hours directly after birth are critical in the life of a pig, and good piglet care can improve piglet survivability. Farm procedures after farrow should be well planned and executed, whilst the importance of staff training and communication should never be overlooked.
In terms of early piglet care, attention should be given within the farrowing unit to ensure piglets receive sufficient colostrum from their own mother during the first eight hours of life. The method of split suckling a litter has proven to be particularly useful in large litters.
Piglets should be fostered as little as possible and as early as possible after the piglets have received sufficient colostrum. The breed’s genetic guidelines for litter equalisation should be followed. Ensuring that piglets are both dry and warm directly after birth is an area that should always be prioritized. Graph 1, shows that chilled piglets have a much greater mortality rate because these piglets tend to suckle less from the sow and consume a lower amount of colostrum.
The prevention of crushing
Piglet mortality caused by crushing by the sow is often one of the highest contributors to pre-wean mortality. To prevent a high incidence of crushing, attention should be given to the environment in terms of temperature, humidity and wind drafts. Lame or over-conditioned sows are often a direct concern when considering pre-wean mortality.
The motivation for creep feed intake
The shift from ensuring sufficient milk intake to stimulating creep feed intake occurs from 7-10 days of a piglet’s age. It is recommended to start with a small quantity of a high-energy, protein-rich, digestible, fresh and very palatable creep feed. The type and placement of the creep feeder, as well as the creep feed presentation, should all be considered when motivating early creep feed intake. Creep feed intake during the suckling phase will stimulate feed consumption in the early stages after weaning, resulting in greater average daily gain post-weaning.
In the first 21 days of age, 150 – 300 grams of creep feed should be enough to meet the needs of a piglet. Thereafter, the provision of creep feed should increase significantly daily during the fourth week.
- Gareth Salmond (Pr. Sci. Nat.) is the divisional technical manager for swine at Meadow Feeds. For more information, contact him at Gareth.Salmond@meadowfeeds.co.za.
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