piglet management - 2 (birth to weaning). avoid moving individual piglets around. identify and move...

PIGLET MANAGEMENT - 2(Birth to Weaning)

bull Avoid moving individual piglets around Identify and move fall-outs by 5-7 d of age Otherwise leave them put

bull What is a fall-out

What is a fall-out

bull Other names Fall-backs runts

bull Smaller less activepiglet

bull 2 to 7 days of age

What is a fall-out

bull Bony and angular

bull Flat belly

bull Loose skin

bull Hairy

Fall-outs

bull Nursing a poor producing teat

bull Shy non-aggressive pig missing feedings

bull Many flourish with better milk access

Several fall-outs

Teat problems Teat access

Dealing with poor milk supply

bull Several pigs in litter affected1048708 Treat for mastitis1048708 Milk replacer1048708 Creep feed

bull Single pig in litter (i e fall-back)1048708 Many will flourish with more milk1048708 Nurse sows

A fall-out to move

bull Doesnrsquot join littermates to nurse

bull Not selected a teat

bull Shy timid

bull 10 littermates

Key points

bull Avoid moving individual fall-backsbull Move 8 to 10 fall-backs at once to a nurse

sowbull Identify and move fall-backs by 5-7 day of agebull Otherwise leave them put

WEANING WEIGHT - Targets

bull 8 kg if weaned at 4 weeksbull 6 kg if weaned at 3 weeksbull gt 4 kg if weaned at 17 days

If poor checkbull Litter sizebull Birth weightbull Sow condition feed intake milk productionbull Cross fosteringbull Creep feeding managementbull Health hygiene environment

Feed Intake In Newly Weaned Piglets

bull On the sow piglets eat gt 12 times a day-Frequent small meals

bull On the sow piglets eat together-Plenty of feeder space no separation of feeder spaces

bull Pigs have a tremendous sense of smell-Clean feeders-Frequently remove stale feed

Piglet Diseases

bull Frequently observe pigs for signs of disease so prompt treatment is possible

bull congenital defect seen is herniation (2) followed by cryptorchidism (1-2

Diarrhea (scours) and dehydration

Diarrhea (scours)

Normal bright yellowsolid fecal material

A dehydrated piglet

E coli

bull Should affect lt 3 of littersbull Mostly 1-5 days of age bull Main defense

-Antibiotics in milkbull Treat entire litter with antibiotics

-Gentamicin-Spectinomycin

bull Access to water

Difficulty walking and standingtrembling or comatose

bull Hypoglycemia-Low blood sugar

bull Streptococcus suis-Strep suis-Strep meningitis

Swollen hock joint

Swollen joints

bull Bacterial infectionbull Identifytreat early -Penicillin

bull Severely swollen -Treatment ineffective -Euthanize

Other conditions

Vomiting Rough hair coat sluggishness huddling

Greasy Sticky and Dirty Skin

bull Staphylococcus hyicus invades skin

bull Antibiotic therapy when symptoms appear

bull Wash piglet treat topically

bull Minimize cuts in skin and dirty equipment

Some Disadvantaged PigsShould Be Euthanized

Acceptable Barbiturates CO2 potassium chloride in conjunction with general anesthesia penetrating captive bolt Conditional Inhalant anesthetics CO chloral hydrate (IV after sedation) gunshot electrocution blow to the head (lt 3 weeks of age)

bullCarbon dioxidebullElectrocutionbullAnesthetic overdosebullBlunt trauma

National Pork BoardPO Box 9114Des Moines IA 50306 USAPHONE (515) 223-2600FAX (515) 223-2646E-MAILporkboardporkboardorgWEB httpwwwporkboardorg

Practicing proper euthanasiatechniques that are appropriate for the size of the pig is oneof the single most important elements to responsiblyaddress animal welfare

Dead pigplacenta disposal

bull Remove dead pigsplacenta promptly

Incineration

Questions

References

bull httpcalvetupenneduprojectsswinebiogrownursinghmhtml

bull httpwwwncsueduprojectswine_extensionncporkconf2002layhtm

bull httpwwwavmaorgissuesanimal_welfaredefaultasp