April 5, 2007

 

Good management key to reducing piglet mortality

 

 

Focusing on management has allowed swine producers to take full advantage of increasing litter sizes, observed swine veterinarian in Iowa.

 

Dr James Lowe, the director of health and production services with the Maschoffs, notes this genetic improvement has created some management challenges.

 

Since the 1980s the number of pigs born alive per litter has increased from an average of eight to between 11 and half and 12.

 

It was observed that as litter size gets larger, average piglet weight in that litter actually decreases. This puts more pigs in the light weight category of less than 800 grams. 

 

Pre-weaning losses can be maintained at 10 percent or less even as mortality rates decline.  This despite research data showing that larger litter sizes are associated with higher pre-weaning mortality.

 

Better management strategies have helped buck the trend of lower birth weight pigs, which Dr Lowe pointed out, has much to do with getting pigs warm.

 

One of the ways is to set a correct room environment, getting the heat lamp adjusted and alternating the source of heat.

 

Other methods include using survivability boxes. These are tubs place under a heat lamp or heat source where pigs can be placed in for 20 or 30 minutes to dry off.

 

Another alternative would be to use towels to dry these pigs off immediately following birth, a less popular means as its likely to spread diseases, says Dr Lowe.

 

Use one towel per litter so we don't cross contaminate and spread any diarrhea that could be there.

 

Although there are biological limits to genetic improvement, Dr Lowe is confident that good management can sustain having 13 to 14 piglets born alive.