Farrowing unit

Jytte Jochumsen

Lactating sows

95 % 5 %

Danish legislation

Lactating sows

• Nest-building material

• Castration: 2 - 7 days after birth

• Tail-docking: 2 - 4 days after birth

• Tooth grinding: 0 – 4 days after birth

• Enrichment material

• Weaning age (28 days / 21 days)

Lactating sows• Increasing sow size

– 20 % heavier

– 10 % longer

• Weaning age up from 4 to 5 weeks

• 12.5 live born/litter

Lactating sows

Crate size

• Old recommendations

– 160 x 260 cm

• New Recommendations

– 180 x 270 cm

Lactating sows• Sows farrowing in loose

housing

Countdown to farrowing.

at least one week before expected farrowing date

- to a clean , disinfected and dry farrowing pen

- heating lamps

Farrowing

- normally last 2-3 hours (0,5 – 10 hours)

- obstetric assistance. Page 94

- litter adjustment, if necassary

Treatment of piglets

-colostrum. (antibodies).

- iron supplement ( powder, paste, jelly or injection)

- castration

- tooth polishing, if necessary

- tail docking

- ear marking

Piglets

-dry feed at the floor from the second week after farrowing

- fresh and clean water from the second week of their lives

Recipe for an electrolyte solution- 25 grams of glucose

- 9 grams of common salt

- 2 spoon of fruit juice

- 1 litre of boiled water

1-1,5 litre of electrolyte solution per litter is required twice a day.This must be made on a daily basis. An essentiel reguirement for Succes is good hygiene.

Lactating sow

• 1 kg mix = 1,07 – 1,1 FU

• High milk production• No weight loos • Feed the piglets

through the sow • Water reguirement for

sow 25-35 litres

Feeding of sows

Mastitis, metritis and agalactiaCause: Unknown

Symptoms of importance: Aglactia. Loss of appetite,Constipation, abnorm vaginal dischange, swollen Mammary glands and fever

Treatment: Antibiotics and oxytocin

Combating and prevention: Good hygiene at farrowing(clean well-littered pens) Diet prior to farrowing.