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Improvements in pig genetics will continue to increase sow prolificacy, meaning more time will need to be spent managing small pigs on farrowing units.
At an event organised by Elite Sires in Cookstown last week, local pig farmers were told that the average live pigs born per litter among sows bred by genetics company Danbred is projected to reach 19.1 by 2025, up over 10% from the 2016 average of 16.3.
Danish vet Hans Bundgaard said that split milking and cross-fostering were important management practices to allow underweight pigs to survive and grow.
“Big pigs will always have enough colostrum. It is the small ones we need to worry about,” he said.
Figures were presented which showed that 14% of mortalities in pigs from zero to four days of age were due to starvation and Bundgaard maintained that this could be lowered by taking timely steps to ensure small pigs get fed.
His advice for split milking in large litters was to give the sow a painkiller when she is eating after farrowing to relieve any pain, and lower stress levels at the start of lactation.
When cross-fostering pigs, the number of functional teats on each sow should be counted and pigs assigned accordingly
Bundgaard said the sow should then get 2ml of oxytocin when she is lying down and six to eight of the biggest pigs should be held back to allow the smallest pigs 20 to 25 minutes alone at the udder to get colostrum.
He said that when cross-fostering pigs, the number of functional teats on each sow should be counted and pigs assigned accordingly. Farmers were advised to move the biggest pigs in large litters, and undertake cross fostering shortly after farrowing.
Environmental factors were highlighted as another key factor influencing small pig survival with Bundgaard stating that heat pads in farrowing pens should be dry and at least 34-36°C. He pointed out that young pigs are too cold if they are lying in a pile on heat pads.
Disease
On animal disease, local farmers were encouraged to take a preventive approach, both for economic reasons and to allow antibiotic usage in the sector to continue to reduce. Bundgaard pointed out that low farrowing rates on units usually stem from health issues such as leptospira, PRRS, chlamydia or toxins in feed.
The Danish vet also suggested that artificial insemination (AI) was an area where many pig farmers could improve their practice, particularly when serving gilts. His advice was to use a boar to identify heats and AI gilts on their second heat at 230-240 days old, and around 130-150kg liveweight.
Bundgaard said that insemination rooms should be well illuminated, and the AI process should not be rushed, with five to seven minutes needed for each service.
Diets
Also speaking at the meeting, Declan Murphy from consultancy firm Makeway said that replacement gilt feeding should differ from finisher diets to allow slower growth and improved bone development. He pointed out that fibre is important in the diet for gilts and dry sows in loose housing, to help prevent aggression.
A recent Irish study has shown that the economic implications of underfeeding pigs are five times greater than overfeeding
With growing and finishing pigs, Murphy said that calculations for feed allocations must allow for feed which is wasted and is not consumed by pigs.
He said that although farmers should avoid overfeeding pigs, a recent Irish study has shown that the economic implications of underfeeding pigs are five times greater than overfeeding.
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