A Review of Success Factors for Piglet Fostering in Lactation

Abstract

Simple SummaryAn understanding of behavioural and physiological mechanisms responsible for piglet survival and growth will assist in developing the best recommendations in which to manage piglet movements in the farrowing house. This review has identified six key principles that should underpin successful piglet fostering. These fostering principles will improve productivity and welfare of sows and piglets in commercial pig production.AbstractPiglet movement from one sow to another, or fostering, is required in modern pig farming but there is little available literature on the most effective strategy. In this review, we focus on the behavioural and physiological mechanisms responsible for piglet survival and growth, and have identified six key principles. (1) Colostrum provides piglets with warmth, energy and immunity. It is most accessible during the first 12 h from the birth sow, therefore no piglet should be moved before this; (2) To ensure even intake of birth sow colostrum, techniques such as split suckling prior to piglet movement should be implemented; (3) Udder assessment for functional teats should occur at farrowing, with number of fostered piglets not exceeding teat number; (4) Primiparous sows should receive as many piglets as the udder allows to maximise mammary stimulation, although older parities should be assessed for rearing ability; (5) Piglet fostering should occur between 12 and 24 h and movement kept to a minimum to prevent transfer of disease; Litter outliers should be moved and relocated to a litter of similar size; (6) Piglet movement after 24 h should be minimised. When required, strategies such as nurse usage should be employed. These principles will result in improved farrowing house performance by increasing the litter weight weaned per sow.

Are Larger Litters a Concern for Piglet Survival or An Effectively Manageable Trait?

“…In turn, closer management around large litters should focus on colostrum ingestion for both low-birth-weight and low viable piglets. Effective strategies include the split suckling technique [67,68] which allows lower-birth-weight pigs the opportunity to suck by temporarily crating larger piglets [68]. When there were more piglets than functioning teats, i.e., teats that provide adequate volumes of colostrum, the pre-weaning mortality rate in the litter was shown to increase from 8% to 14%.…”

Tools and Protocols for Managing Hyperprolific Sows at Parturition: Optimizing Piglet Survival and Sows’ Reproductive Health

“…Besides the number of functional teats, also the morphology is important. Piglets tend to suck first from teats that are close to the abdominal midline and have longer inter-teat distances [53]. Thus, a functional teat with short inter-teat distance and/or long distance between teat base and abdominal midline may be unusable for the piglet [54].…”

“…However, this may be difficult to implement into practice. It may be helpful to make use of thermal images to overcome these difficulties [53]. Similar to body temperature, skin temperature is linked to birth weight, vitality, and colostrum ingestion and can be used to see whether a piglet has reached the teat and suckled and ingested colostrum within 30 min of birth [73,74].…”

“…Similar to body temperature, skin temperature is linked to birth weight, vitality, and colostrum ingestion and can be used to see whether a piglet has reached the teat and suckled and ingested colostrum within 30 min of birth [73,74]. As a piglet begins to suck and ingest colostrum, energy and warmth are produced, increasing body and therefore skin temperature [53]. If skin temperature drops below 30 o C, the piglet has not been successful [53] and needs to be assisted to suckle and ingest colostrum.…”

“…As a piglet begins to suck and ingest colostrum, energy and warmth are produced, increasing body and therefore skin temperature [53]. If skin temperature drops below 30 o C, the piglet has not been successful [53] and needs to be assisted to suckle and ingest colostrum.…”