Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Baby Pig Management
2
Swine Care and management of the sow
signs at farrowing nervous and uneasy enlarged vulva mucouse discharge milk letdown pawing (making a bed)
3
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
4
Two Classes of Piglets at Birth
Normal Up and moving quickly Nursing within 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
5
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.
6
The Newborn Pig Has no antibodies against pathogens
No transfer of antibodies prepartum Colostrum only way of getting passive immunity
7
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
8
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
9
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
10
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
11
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
12
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
13
Weak Piglets Often born last in litter Often have low birth weight
get less colostrum Often have low birth weight difficulty competing for teat receive less colostrum Deprived of oxygen
14
It takes a dedicated herdsman to secure survival of weak piglets
15
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 ml per injection
16
Avoid Chilling Cold pigs can be warmed in water Zone heating essential
dry them afterwards Zone heating essential 32-33oC (heat lamp)
17
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 hours to maintain teat order Standardize by number and size
18
Crossfostering/Standardizing
Reduce weight variation in litters Match number of piglets to sows ability to nurse usually pigs/sow All small pigs are placed on the same sow
19
Crossfostering, cont. Not before 12 h Not after 48 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
20
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
21
Nurse sows, new borns Use 2nd. Litter sow - 14 d past farrowing
Wean her own piglets Give new h old pigs to this sow Give Oxytocin before introducing piglets
22
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 sows Make sure that nurse pigs don’t compromise overall health status
23
Bench marking for mortality
On the best farms, pre-weaning mortality is between 6 an 9 %
24
Processing of new born piglets and daily management
25
Processing Piglets Process varies from farm to farm
Clipping needle teeth Treating umbilical cord Iron Tail docking Identification Scours prevention/treatment Castration
26
Processing, Day 1/ within 24 hours
Medication IPD 1.5 cc Number with a majic marker Take birth weight Umbilical cord disinfection
27
Processing, Day 1 after 24 hours
Teeth clipping Tail docking Tape spray legged pigs Ear notching
28
Ear Notching- Swine
29
Ear Notching- Swine Individual Number Litter Number
30
Swine Reproduction Ear Notching
31
Universal Ear Notching System
Right ear = litter Left ear = pig
32
Swine Reproduction Ear Notching
34
Swine Reproduction Ear Notching Quiz
35
Ear Notching Swine Reproduction
The right (litter) ear is equal to =16 The left (pig) ear is equal to 3 This is the 16-3 pig.
36
Processing, Day 3-5 Castration Scours ???
37
Needle Teeth Clipping
38
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
39
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
40
Preweaning Growth Rate
41
Symptoms of Anemia Poor growth Listlessness, weak Rough hair coat Pale
Labored breathing Prevention Oral iron Injection – usually 200 mg
42
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
43
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
44
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
45
Common diseases in nursery pigs
Diarrhea Joint problems Strep Suis Undernurished
46
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
47
Managing the Weaning Weight
48
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
49
Objectives for weaning weights
50
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
51
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
52
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
53
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
54
Water Always have fresh and clean water available for piglets
From water cup let run at all times
55
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.
56
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
Similar presentations
