A piglet’s tympanic temperature at 24 hours of life appears to be one of the major determinants of neonatal piglet survival, according to a study presented by Adèle Drouet of Terrena at the Journées de la recherche porcine in February 2026.
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The study involved individual monitoring of 1 247 piglets from a farrow-to-finish farm equipped with free-farrowing maternity pens. “Each additional degree at birth multiplies the chances of survival until weaning by 2,8.” Piglets that were cold at birth (temperature below 38 °C) had a mortality rate of 14 % before day six, compared with 4 % for warm piglets (above 38 °C). At 24 hours, tympanic temperature had increased by an average of 0,5 °C. More than a third of the piglets did not manage to warm up (<38 °C), and mortality among these piglets reached 24 %. “This clearly shows the importance of warming piglets during the first 24 hours of life to improve their survival (positioning and number of lamps around farrowing, and drying the piglets). » The piglets in this group also weighed 500 g less at weaning at 21 days than all the piglets as a whole. The study shows a significant effect of temperature at 24 hours on piglet survival after the sixth day, showing that it can be a good indicator of viability.
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No effect of cross-fostering on survival
Cross-fostered piglets (i.e. 18% of the total) had a lower average weight gain during lactation than non-cross-fostered piglets, with a difference of 410 g at weaning (5,07 kg versus 5,5 kg). However, cross-fostering did not adversely affect their survival, provided it was carried out early, that is, between 6 and 48 hours of age. “After this time, the teat hierarchy is established and integrating cross-fostered piglets becomes more difficult.”
