Preweaning Mortality in piglets and its control measures in the farrowing unit

Preweaning Mortality in piglets and its control measures in the farrowing unit

 Dr. R.Selvakkumar

Professor and Head

Department of Livestock Production Management

Veterinary College and Research Institute

Tirunelveli – 627 358

Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

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Pig rearing is one of the most important occupations of weaker sections of the society, especially tribal masses and people of the North Eastern region of the country. When compared to other livestock, pigs have a capacity to give faster economic returns to the farmers due to its shorter generation interval, larger litter size and faster growth. Even though  pigs are having the above features, the population  Pigs in the country is 9.06 Million (20^th livestock census) in the current Census, declined by 12.03% over the previous Census.

Majority of the farmers involved in pig farming are unaware about deadly diseases of pigs, importance of vaccination and scientific farming practices. This all will affect the economics of pig farming and urge the farmers to divert from piggery farming. Identification of bottleneck in swine farming, sensitization of piggery farming about the scientific farming practices and formulation of scientific swine farming are the essential for a sustainable income from this sector.

The profitability of the swine farm is determining the litter size, survivability and weaning percentage. The survivability of the piglet is determined by factors listed below.

1. Litter size
2. Litter weight
3. Environmental temperature during farrowing
4. Managemental practices

Due to the epitheliochorial placenta type, transfer of antibodies through placenta is not possible. This is also a predisposing factor for piglet mortality. Various causes for piglet mortality include Hypothermia, crushing by the dam, stillbirth, being bitten to death, starvation, piglet anaemia, underweight and various diseases.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia in piglets is a major predisposing factor for preweaning mortality.Sudden change in its surrounding temperature immediately after birth is the challenging period for piglets. If the environmental temperature is low, the piglets face difficulty in maintaining their body temperature. Further, hypothermia also acts as a predisposes factor for the piglet’s mortality due to other causes like starvation, crushing and disease. Affected piglets huddle under heat source or against the sow. Erect hair coat, shivering and abnormal gait are the symptoms expressed by piglets affected by hypothermia.

Making the piglet dry by wiping with dry cloth will make the piglet dry quickly. If sufficient milk is not available for piglets, feeding them with cow milk will satisfy its energy and nutrition requirement. Artificial heat should be provided to the piglets farrowed during the chilled period of the month until weaning will be helpful to avoid hypothermia in piglets. Spread warm bedding materials like straw and jute bags will save the piglets from the floor chillness.

Crushing by the dam

Crushing is the most important, non-infectious cause for piglet mortality. For 2 to 3 days immediately after birth piglets are having a close contact with the sow to get warmth from the sow. This will make a change of crushed by the sow when it is lying down or make its position while lying.

Use of farrowing crates is the most secure way to protect the piglets from crushing mortality. Appointing labourers to monitor the sow reaching farrowing and recently farrowed is helpful to reduce the crushing related issues. Provision of guard rail inside the farrowing pen is necessary and this structure will provide an escape space while the sow changes its position while lying down.

Piglet anaemia 

Piglets are affected by piglet anaemia usually within 2-4weeks. Low iron content of sow’s milk and poor iron reserve in the newborn are the predisposing cause for the piglet anaemia. The piglets which maintained on concrete floor are susceptible to piglet anaemia than the piglets in mud floor due to the non-accessibility of soil which contain iron

Pink colour of the visible mucous membrane, Poor growth, rough coat, difficulty in breathing and weakness are symptoms of piglet anaemia.

Oral supplementation of iron, pasting of ferrous sulphate salt preparation on the udder of the sow and intramuscular injection of Iron dextran will help to reverse the condition.

Diseases

Mastitis, metritis and agalactia (MMA) is a complex syndrome which affects the sows shortly after farrowing. The bacterial infection of the mammary glands and urogenital tract will lead to agalactia. The affected sows are unable to nurse their young ones.  MMA leads to increased piglet mortality and reduced weaning weights of the piglets of the affected sow. Common conditions in piglets causing mortality are

Infections like colibacillosis, Clostridial enteritis, Transmissible Gastroenteritis and diarrhoea are the common problem in piglet mortality. Parental antibiotics with anti-inflammatory drugs may be useful for this condition.  Farm hygiene is a must to avoid MMA in pigs. The piglets of the affected sows should be fed with cows milk or transferred to the other sows which are farrowed at the same period.

Nutrition

Sows maintained under a poor feeding regimen during the pregnancy period are more prone to farrowing difficulties, birth of weak young ones and fail to nourish their piglets. The above all will result in higher pre weaning mortality in piglets. Colostrum of the sow is rich in immunoglobulins which is responsible for the immunity and it must be available for the piglets within 36 hours after birth to get the beneficial effect of the colostrum.

Measures to overcome piglet mortality

• The care and management of piglets start from the mother’s womb itself. It means, the care and management of pregnant sow is important to get a healthy piglet. Hence, maintaining the pregnant sow at a sound nutritional plan is must to get a viable litter.
• The pregnant sows should be transferred to the farrowing room one week prior to the farrowing. Separate attenders should be appointed to take care of the sow before one week and after one week of farrowing.
• Wiping the piglets immediately after birth with dry cloth will help to avoid hypothermia in piglets during the winter time. Ensure whether all the piglets are getting sufficient amounts of milk from the mother.
• By maintaining the hygiene of the pig sty, we can avoid infections like MMA complex syndrome.
• Basic routine like  removable of umbilical cord (To prevent navel ill)), cutting of needle teeth (Avoid injury to the sows udder) and supplementation of Iron (To prevent piglet anaemia) should be done at proper time will help to reduce the piglet mortality.
• Provision of creep area and erection of guard rail in the farrowing pen will help to protect the piglets from crushing , overlying by sow.
• Creep feeding with concentrated feed should be started at 2-3 weeks of age for proper growth rate in piglets.
• Provision of artificial light and hanging of side curtains will protect the piglets against extreme chill weather conditions.

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