Saving piglet lives: Proper handling after birth helps

Importance of Piglet Transfers

Transferring piglets is an important management measure in sow farms. It helps relieve sows with large litters and contributes to reducing piglet losses. Practical experience shows that transferring piglets still poses challenges in some farms. For example, if piglets are transferred too late, after the third day of life. It must be considered that a firm sucking order with almost 100% teat constancy of the piglets develops within the first day of life. Now, if transferred piglets enter a "new" litter, they must compete with the existing piglets for teats, ultimately causing stress for all animals in the litter.

Rule of Thumb for Transfers: As Much as Necessary, As Little as Possible

An extensive practical study examined the aspects of moving piglets after birth. One of the most important rules is to transfer only as many piglets as necessary and as few as possible. In many farms, especially with very large litters, supplementing piglets with milk has proven to be effective. If the litter size of live-born piglets exceeds the number of teats of the sows, measures such as litter equalization are necessary to raise the many piglets with minimal loss. The study identified the critical points in piglet transfers and how to successfully practice moving piglets, which can be read in the digital edition of agrarheute Schwein.