Improving litter performance is essential for maximizing productivity and profitability in pig production. With the introduction of a new trait in DanBreds breeding goal – litter weight gain – you can expect an annual increase of 3 kg in litter weight gain, equivalent to weaning half a piglet more per litter.
To help you achieve maximum litter performance, we have gathered a set of practical management tips that support the new breeding goal. These five key focus areas offer hands-on tips for both the sow and the piglets, that you can easily use in your daily routines.
1. Get the right body condition before farrowing
It is important to ensure that the sow has the right body condition score before farrowing, so she can perform well during lactation. Follow the DanBred Feeding Recommendation and monitor backfat thickness just before farrowing. This will indicate whether your feeding strategy is correct, or it should be adjusted.
Tips:
- Create ready-to-use feeding curve(s) and update your feeding curve if the backfat thickness is not right.
- Assign one person to monitor feed adjustments and backfat measurements for consistency.
2. Focus on the first three days after farrowing
The first three days after farrowing are critical for piglet survival. A focused management can significantly improve piglet survival and enhance piglet performance all the way to slaughter.
Tips:
- Ensure optimal temperature for both sows and piglets. In the piglet creep area at least 34 °C and 21-22 °C for the sows. Piglets’ body temperature drops by 2-4 °C within the first few hours and can result in a higher risk of dying, especially small piglets. Therefore, dry newborn piglets and use the heating zone. Check the ventilation daily and set temperature at an optimal level for both sows and piglets.
- Establish nursing sows and do cross-fostering within 48 hours to balance litter sizes and improve survival. Use second parity sows for nursing sows and place the bigger piglets from the sows which have farrowed within 48 hours with the nursing sow. You can let well-conditioned sow nurse one extra piglet that the number of its functional teats.
- Split suckling can be used to ensure that all piglets get enough colostrum especially for the smaller or less viable piglets. Start split suckling by keeping the biggest piglets in the creep area so that the small piglets have the udder to themselves. After a period, swap the group of piglets, making sure the biggest piglets also get enough colostrum from the sow.
3. Perform daily health checks
Early detection and treatment of health issues in sows and piglets are vital for maintaining a high performance.
Tips:
- Make daily health checks during the first feeding, starting with the smallest piglets.
- Monitor signs of diarrhea, fever, or poor appetite.
- If nursing sows are not a possibility use milk replacer under good hygienic conditions.
4. Feed sows right in the farrowing unit
Proper feeding in the farrowing unit supports milk production and thereby litter growth. Follow DanBred’s Feeding Recommendation and notice if all sows are eating well every day.
Tips:
- Adjust feed daily at the exact same time and clean troughs before feeding. Ensure that sows that nurse big litters of 13-16 piglets get more feed than sows that nurse 9-10 piglets.
- Ensure water flow of at least 4 L per minute. Lactating sows need at least 25-50 L per day, maybe more in hot climate.
5. Routines and follow-ups drive success
Consistency and communication are fundamental to achieving a good workflow to support litter performance. Establish clear routines and be prepared for challenges.
Tips:
- Create daily, weekly, and monthly plans for the tasks in the farrowing sections.
- Hold regular briefings to align staff and teach the teams how to respond quickly to issues such as feed or water failure, ventilation regulation in weather changes, diseases, medicine handling and vaccine programs.
If you want more hands-on tips and guidance in your pig production, you can assess the DanBred manuals. The DanBred manuals are designed as a practical guide for every stage of your pigs’ life cycles with easy-to-follow guides, detailed photos, graphics and videos. It will help you unlock the full potential of DanBred genetics and get you on the path with robust and high performing pigs.
