Swine Resources - Farrowing

May 2021

User responses of the 333 survey on gestation length in sows reveal gestations are trending around 115.5 days.

April 2021

Two-level systems may reduce aggressive behaviour and social stress in pigs.

February 2021

Piglet performances were not improved nor impaired when split-suckling was applied during the first day of life. However growth was impaired when litters were intensively split-suckled during first three days of life.

February 2021

A high dose of oxytocin given in the 16 h following the end of farrowing prolongs the colostral phase which can improve the quality of milk in early lactation.

Figure 1. Newborn piglet.

April 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate whether providing radiant heat at the birth site to new-born piglets in pens with crated sows reduced hypothermia, time to first milk intake and growth of the piglets during the 1st week. Second parity Danish Landrace×Yorkshire sows (n=36) were randomly divided into two groups: Control (CG) and heat (HG). In the area behind the sow (zone 1), two radiant heat panels were mounted above the slatted floor in the HG. The farrowings were attended, and the heaters were turned on at birth of first piglet and turned off 12 h after. Birth time, time to leave zone 1, time to first contact with udder and time to first suckling were registered by direct observation. The piglet’s rectal temperature (RT) was measured 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240 min after birth and 12, 14 and 24 h after birth of first piglet. Piglets were weighed at birth, 24 and 48 h and 7 days after birth. Data were analysed in a mixed model in SAS.