What factors besides temperature affect piglet survival, and what should farmers pay attention to? How can piglet survival be improved?
I. Reduce contact with pathogens
Disinfection of the farrowing house
Summer conditions favor the growth of pathogens. Therefore, before sows enter the farrowing house, clean and disinfect it thoroughly, then allow it to dry completely before use. The most effective method is an all-in/all-out system for the farrowing house: after an entire batch of pigs has been moved out, clean and disinfect the housing, and let it dry before bringing in the next batch of sows due to farrow.
Disinfection of sows
Sows should also be washed before entering the farrowing house. This helps remove the various pathogens and parasites they carry and prevents them from spreading to newborn piglets.
Cut off other routes
Other ways pathogens can enter the farrowing house include: farm workers entering the farrowing house without disinfecting; cats, dogs, or rats carrying large numbers of pathogens entering and leaving the farrowing house; and sow feces not being removed promptly. In summer, pay particular attention to disease transmission through mosquito and fly bites, and thoroughly clean dead corners where mosquitoes and flies are likely to breed. To cut off these routes of transmission, farm workers entering and leaving the farrowing house must be strictly disinfected, and other animals must be kept out of the farrowing house. Feed must be inspected strictly, and spoiled feed must not be used.
II. Manually Monitor Sow Farrowing
Manually monitoring sow farrowing is an important measure for reducing deaths among newborn piglets in summer. The sow's appetite decreases 1-2 days before farrowing. During farrowing, she is active frequently, causing her to expend excessive energy. This is especially the case in hot summer weather. If the sow does not drink enough water before and after farrowing, she will become extremely thirsty and restless, which may lead to her eating her piglets. Therefore, after the piglets are born, monitor the sow closely for a period of time to prevent her from eating them.
Because the sow is agitated, newborn piglets are also at risk of being crushed to death by the sow, most of them weak piglets with limited mobility. During monitored farrowing, take particular care to protect these piglets in order to reduce piglet mortality.
From birth to 60 days of age is the piglet rearing and management stage. The following describes in detail the summer rearing and management of piglets during this stage.
Three. Management during lactation
Post-birth related procedures
The milk secreted by a sow within 24 hours after giving birth is called colostrum. It is rich in immunoglobulins, which are absorbed by piglets into their bloodstream and help form an effective disease-resistance function in their bodies. In addition, breast milk contains large amounts of fat, sugar, and protein, which are also readily digested and absorbed by piglets. To improve piglets’ disease resistance in summer and promote their healthy, rapid development, piglets must receive colostrum within two hours of birth. For piglets that are hungry and have limited nutrient reserves in their bodies, timely nursing is key to improving disease resistance and reducing mortality.
In summer, piglets should have their teeth clipped and tails docked 1-2 days after birth; male piglets should be castrated after seven days. When clipping teeth, docking tails, and castrating, disinfect the piglets’ wounds and the instruments used to prevent infection.
Ensure adequate iron supplementation
Iron is an essential component of red blood cells. The iron piglets receive from their mothers at birth is very limited and can support their growth for only 3-5 days. If iron is not supplemented in time, piglets may become iron-deficient and develop anemia. To effectively prevent iron deficiency in piglets, iron should be injected after birth. A commonly used iron supplement is iron dextran. The injections can be given in two doses: the first on day 3 after birth, and the second when the piglets are 10-15 days old.
Creep feeding for suckling piglets
Creep feeding means teaching piglets to eat feed during the suckling period. It is very important for piglets’ growth: first, it helps piglets become familiar with and accustomed to the smell of the feed, trains them to eat and chew solid feed, stimulates increased activity of various plant-based amylases and proteases in the digestive tract, and reduces stress reactions in weaned piglets. Second, supplemental feeding can make up for nutritional deficiencies caused by an insufficient supply of breast milk. If supplemental feeding is provided in a timely manner, piglets can learn to eat feed and adapt to it, and after 3 weeks of age they can obtain a considerable portion of their nutrition from feed.
The best time to start creep feeding in summer is at 5-7 days of age. Starting creep feeding too early is ineffective; starting too late fails to achieve the two benefits mentioned above and directly results in piglets having poor digestive capacity at weaning. The feed they consume is not digested and absorbed well, causing diarrhea.
During the suckling period, the total amount of supplemental feed for each piglet should be 400-700 grams. Creep feed is generally purchased directly from the market as feed specifically formulated for piglets. When purchasing, crumbled feed is generally preferred because it offers balanced nutrient distribution, suitably sized particles, and less waste from scattering, making it more suitable for creep feeding piglets than pelleted or powdered feed.
Temperature requirements
In summer, the relatively high temperatures often lead people to overlook keeping piglets warm. The period within the first 3 weeks after birth, as well as nighttime, is especially critical for keeping piglets warm, and must not be overlooked. The optimum temperature for newborn piglets is generally 32℃. During the following 4-5 weeks, the temperature should be lowered by 2℃ each week. Heating lamps and additional dry, clean bedding can be used to keep them warm. In addition, we must pay particular attention to drafts caused by air flowing through gaps in the windows or walls of the farrowing house. In areas exposed to drafts, the temperature drops by 3-5℃. This can cause diarrhea in piglets and have a certain impact on their subsequent growth and development. Dampness in the pens is also an important factor in keeping piglets warm. Damp floors not only make piglets more susceptible to cold but also provide a breeding ground for bacteria, which can seriously affect their growth.
Four. Management of piglets after weaning
Temperature requirements
As the piglets grow, they are weaned after four weeks. After weaning, to avoid stress reactions to the environment and temperature, do not move the piglets directly into the general housing area. First place them in a nursery room for the nursery period. After this period, they can be moved directly to the growing-finishing house. Piglet pens should be clean and sanitary, with dry floors, fresh air, and a quiet environment, and should be disinfected 1–2 times every half month. In the first few days after weaning, piglets eat less and lose body fat. At this time, piglets are very sensitive to temperature; low temperatures can easily cause them to catch a cold or develop diarrhea. Although summer temperatures are relatively high, provide heat at night when the day-night temperature difference is large. The temperature in the housing for newly weaned piglets should be 2–4℃ higher than the temperature at the end of the suckling period, or should be set so that resting piglets lie stretched out without huddling. The smaller the weaning weight, the higher the temperature required; a relatively high and stable housing temperature is needed. One week after weaning, gradually lower the housing temperature until supplementary heating is no longer needed. After weaning, keep the temperature in the piglet pens at around 26℃.
During hot summer weather, while keeping newly weaned piglets warm, take care to protect them from heat and cool them down. Prolonged high temperatures can cause heat stress and heatstroke in piglets. Adjust the temperature as needed according to the actual conditions; measures such as misting and ventilation can be used to cool them down.
Feeding after weaning
In summer, piglets are weaned after 3-4 weeks. At weaning, continue using the creep feed given during lactation; do not switch feeds immediately, as this can reduce stress on the weaned piglets. Use a specialized nursery feed for piglets, and make the feed transition gradually 5-7 days after weaning. During the first half-month after weaning, feed the piglets 1～2 more times per day than during lactation, mainly by adding a nighttime feeding, to prevent them from becoming restless due to hunger. Do not give too much at each feeding; aim for about seven or eight tenths full so the piglets maintain a strong appetite. During supplemental feeding, be sure to keep the feed fresh, as piglets have very high requirements in this regard.
V. Provide sufficient clean drinking water
Finally, one more point to emphasize: in summer, be sure to provide piglets with sufficient clean drinking water. Summer temperatures are relatively high, and piglets need more water, so replenishing an appropriate amount of water is essential. In addition, experimental data show that, up to a certain point, piglets’ feed intake increases as their water intake increases. Piglets’ growth rate is related to their water intake, and piglets that drink more water grow faster. Piglets have relatively poor disease resistance, so be sure to provide clean water as well as a sufficient supply.
I. Reduce contact with pathogens
Disinfection of the farrowing house
Summer conditions favor the growth of pathogens. Therefore, before sows enter the farrowing house, clean and disinfect it thoroughly, then allow it to dry completely before use. The most effective method is an all-in/all-out system for the farrowing house: after an entire batch of pigs has been moved out, clean and disinfect the housing, and let it dry before bringing in the next batch of sows due to farrow.
Disinfection of sows
Sows should also be washed before entering the farrowing house. This helps remove the various pathogens and parasites they carry and prevents them from spreading to newborn piglets.
Cut off other routes
Other ways pathogens can enter the farrowing house include: farm workers entering the farrowing house without disinfecting; cats, dogs, or rats carrying large numbers of pathogens entering and leaving the farrowing house; and sow feces not being removed promptly. In summer, pay particular attention to disease transmission through mosquito and fly bites, and thoroughly clean dead corners where mosquitoes and flies are likely to breed. To cut off these routes of transmission, farm workers entering and leaving the farrowing house must be strictly disinfected, and other animals must be kept out of the farrowing house. Feed must be inspected strictly, and spoiled feed must not be used.
II. Manually Monitor Sow Farrowing
Manually monitoring sow farrowing is an important measure for reducing deaths among newborn piglets in summer. The sow's appetite decreases 1-2 days before farrowing. During farrowing, she is active frequently, causing her to expend excessive energy. This is especially the case in hot summer weather. If the sow does not drink enough water before and after farrowing, she will become extremely thirsty and restless, which may lead to her eating her piglets. Therefore, after the piglets are born, monitor the sow closely for a period of time to prevent her from eating them.
Because the sow is agitated, newborn piglets are also at risk of being crushed to death by the sow, most of them weak piglets with limited mobility. During monitored farrowing, take particular care to protect these piglets in order to reduce piglet mortality.
From birth to 60 days of age is the piglet rearing and management stage. The following describes in detail the summer rearing and management of piglets during this stage.
Three. Management during lactation
Post-birth related procedures
The milk secreted by a sow within 24 hours after giving birth is called colostrum. It is rich in immunoglobulins, which are absorbed by piglets into their bloodstream and help form an effective disease-resistance function in their bodies. In addition, breast milk contains large amounts of fat, sugar, and protein, which are also readily digested and absorbed by piglets. To improve piglets’ disease resistance in summer and promote their healthy, rapid development, piglets must receive colostrum within two hours of birth. For piglets that are hungry and have limited nutrient reserves in their bodies, timely nursing is key to improving disease resistance and reducing mortality.
In summer, piglets should have their teeth clipped and tails docked 1-2 days after birth; male piglets should be castrated after seven days. When clipping teeth, docking tails, and castrating, disinfect the piglets’ wounds and the instruments used to prevent infection.
Ensure adequate iron supplementation
Iron is an essential component of red blood cells. The iron piglets receive from their mothers at birth is very limited and can support their growth for only 3-5 days. If iron is not supplemented in time, piglets may become iron-deficient and develop anemia. To effectively prevent iron deficiency in piglets, iron should be injected after birth. A commonly used iron supplement is iron dextran. The injections can be given in two doses: the first on day 3 after birth, and the second when the piglets are 10-15 days old.
Creep feeding for suckling piglets
Creep feeding means teaching piglets to eat feed during the suckling period. It is very important for piglets’ growth: first, it helps piglets become familiar with and accustomed to the smell of the feed, trains them to eat and chew solid feed, stimulates increased activity of various plant-based amylases and proteases in the digestive tract, and reduces stress reactions in weaned piglets. Second, supplemental feeding can make up for nutritional deficiencies caused by an insufficient supply of breast milk. If supplemental feeding is provided in a timely manner, piglets can learn to eat feed and adapt to it, and after 3 weeks of age they can obtain a considerable portion of their nutrition from feed.
The best time to start creep feeding in summer is at 5-7 days of age. Starting creep feeding too early is ineffective; starting too late fails to achieve the two benefits mentioned above and directly results in piglets having poor digestive capacity at weaning. The feed they consume is not digested and absorbed well, causing diarrhea.
During the suckling period, the total amount of supplemental feed for each piglet should be 400-700 grams. Creep feed is generally purchased directly from the market as feed specifically formulated for piglets. When purchasing, crumbled feed is generally preferred because it offers balanced nutrient distribution, suitably sized particles, and less waste from scattering, making it more suitable for creep feeding piglets than pelleted or powdered feed.
Temperature requirements
In summer, the relatively high temperatures often lead people to overlook keeping piglets warm. The period within the first 3 weeks after birth, as well as nighttime, is especially critical for keeping piglets warm, and must not be overlooked. The optimum temperature for newborn piglets is generally 32℃. During the following 4-5 weeks, the temperature should be lowered by 2℃ each week. Heating lamps and additional dry, clean bedding can be used to keep them warm. In addition, we must pay particular attention to drafts caused by air flowing through gaps in the windows or walls of the farrowing house. In areas exposed to drafts, the temperature drops by 3-5℃. This can cause diarrhea in piglets and have a certain impact on their subsequent growth and development. Dampness in the pens is also an important factor in keeping piglets warm. Damp floors not only make piglets more susceptible to cold but also provide a breeding ground for bacteria, which can seriously affect their growth.
Four. Management of piglets after weaning
Temperature requirements
As the piglets grow, they are weaned after four weeks. After weaning, to avoid stress reactions to the environment and temperature, do not move the piglets directly into the general housing area. First place them in a nursery room for the nursery period. After this period, they can be moved directly to the growing-finishing house. Piglet pens should be clean and sanitary, with dry floors, fresh air, and a quiet environment, and should be disinfected 1–2 times every half month. In the first few days after weaning, piglets eat less and lose body fat. At this time, piglets are very sensitive to temperature; low temperatures can easily cause them to catch a cold or develop diarrhea. Although summer temperatures are relatively high, provide heat at night when the day-night temperature difference is large. The temperature in the housing for newly weaned piglets should be 2–4℃ higher than the temperature at the end of the suckling period, or should be set so that resting piglets lie stretched out without huddling. The smaller the weaning weight, the higher the temperature required; a relatively high and stable housing temperature is needed. One week after weaning, gradually lower the housing temperature until supplementary heating is no longer needed. After weaning, keep the temperature in the piglet pens at around 26℃.
During hot summer weather, while keeping newly weaned piglets warm, take care to protect them from heat and cool them down. Prolonged high temperatures can cause heat stress and heatstroke in piglets. Adjust the temperature as needed according to the actual conditions; measures such as misting and ventilation can be used to cool them down.
Feeding after weaning
In summer, piglets are weaned after 3-4 weeks. At weaning, continue using the creep feed given during lactation; do not switch feeds immediately, as this can reduce stress on the weaned piglets. Use a specialized nursery feed for piglets, and make the feed transition gradually 5-7 days after weaning. During the first half-month after weaning, feed the piglets 1～2 more times per day than during lactation, mainly by adding a nighttime feeding, to prevent them from becoming restless due to hunger. Do not give too much at each feeding; aim for about seven or eight tenths full so the piglets maintain a strong appetite. During supplemental feeding, be sure to keep the feed fresh, as piglets have very high requirements in this regard.
V. Provide sufficient clean drinking water
Finally, one more point to emphasize: in summer, be sure to provide piglets with sufficient clean drinking water. Summer temperatures are relatively high, and piglets need more water, so replenishing an appropriate amount of water is essential. In addition, experimental data show that, up to a certain point, piglets’ feed intake increases as their water intake increases. Piglets’ growth rate is related to their water intake, and piglets that drink more water grow faster. Piglets have relatively poor disease resistance, so be sure to provide clean water as well as a sufficient supply.