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Reducing pig mortality through supervision during the perinatal period
P K Holyoake1, G D Dial, T Trigg
1Department of Clinical and Population Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108, USA.
Journal of Animal Science
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Supervised farrowing care significantly reduced piglet mortality, increasing pigs weaned per litter. This controlled farrowing system improves pig survival and farm profitability.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Science
- Agricultural Economics
Background:
- Perinatal mortality significantly impacts commercial swine farm profitability.
- Effective strategies are needed to reduce stillbirths and neonatal piglet mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of supervised and induced farrowing on reducing perinatal mortality in commercial swine.
- To evaluate the economic viability of improved piglet survival through enhanced farrowing management.
Main Methods:
- A 2x2 factorial design study involving 251 sows and gilts across four treatment groups: supervised/induced, supervised/non-induced, unsupervised/induced, and unsupervised/non-induced.
- Supervised groups received constant observation from 3 hours pre-farrowing to 3 days post-farrowing.
- Farrowing induction was achieved using cloprostenol (250 micrograms).
Main Results:
- Supervised farrowing significantly increased pigs weaned per litter (10.17) compared to unsupervised farrowing (9.44) (P = .012).
- Supervision reduced stillborn pigs and mortality of live-born piglets (P = .001, P = .026).
- Induced sows farrowed earlier (average 0.43 days sooner) (P = .029), with a mean interval of 23.87 hours from treatment to farrowing.
Conclusions:
- A controlled farrowing system with close supervision enhances piglet survival rates.
- This management approach is a financially viable strategy for improving commercial pig farm profitability by reducing preweaning mortality.