Almost 50 % of the pigs that die on a farm die before they are 14 days old. Good management in the farrowing house, where the piglets are born and kept for the first 28 to 35 days of their lives, is therefore of the utmost importance. The farrowing pen must be designed in such a way that the sow cannot lie on top of the piglets. New-born piglets are very sensitive to cold, draughts, wet bedding and floors as well as sudden changes in temperature. Ensure therefore that everything possible is done to prevent piglets from being exposed to these conditions.

A farrowing crate (if u can get one if not construct a warm box for piglets) for the sows and a creep area for the piglets should be provided to prevent or reduce deaths as a result of piglets being trampled by the sow or as a result of cold, draughts, etc.

Make sure that all piglets suckle a teat as soon as possible after birth to take in colostrum. The
first milk produced by the sow immediately after the piglets are born is known as colostrum. It
plays an important role in the protection of the piglets against diseases during the first few weeks of their lives.

If a sow has more piglets than the number of teats she has, the extra piglets can be placed with another sow with a smaller number of piglets. This can only be done if the piglets of the sows are born within a few days of each other.
Sometimes a sow does not accept her own piglets, usually as a result of birth shock (often seen in sows having their first litter of piglets). If this happens the piglets can be taken away from the sow for a few hours. If she still refuses to accept them they should be placed with another sow if possible. Sows that do not accept their piglets or bite them must rather be slaughtered.
If another sow is not available to rear the rejected piglets, they can be reared artificially. It does, however, take time and hard work, because the piglets do not always grow and perform well.

Specific treatment of piglets:

Umbilical cord
Disinfect the umbilical cord after birth with an iodine solution or any other suitable disinfectant
to prevent bacterial infection.

Tusk clipping
Piglets have very sharp temporary tusks (or teeth) at birth which must be clipped to prevent
injuries to the teats of the sows during suckling. Use a tusk clipper or a nail cutter and do not clip the teeth too close to the gums. The very sharp temporary tusks (or teeth) of piglets should be clipped

Iron injections
The milk of the sow does not provide enough iron to piglets that are reared on concrete floors.
Piglets must therefore be injected with iron when they are three to seven days old to prevent
them from becoming anaemic which results in poor appetite and growth until they start eating
meal. In order to handle the piglets as little as possible clip the tusks and give the iron injection at he same time, about three days after birth. Injectable iron preparations for piglets can be bought and injected into the neck or buttocks. Not necessary required for outdoor farming.

Water and feed
Clean, fresh water placed at the back of the pen where the piglets will learn to dung is very
important. The sooner they start to drink water the better. Two to three weeks after birth they will start to nibble on feed placed away from the water near the creep area. Creep feed is expensive and they will not eat much before weaning, therefore only small quantities of feed must be given from two to three weeks of age. Increase the daily quantity gradually when they start eating to prevent wastage.

Do this and you will have little or no case of mortality with your weaners.

PigBarn:
Almost 50 % of the pigs that die on a farm die before they are 14 days old. Good management in the farrowing house, where the piglets are born and kept for the first 28 to 35 days of their lives, is therefore of the utmost importance. The farrowing pen must be designed in such a way that the sow cannot lie on top of the piglets. New-born piglets are very sensitive to cold, draughts, wet bedding and floors as well as sudden changes in temperature. Ensure therefore that everything possible is done to prevent piglets from being exposed to these conditions.

A farrowing crate (if u can get one if not construct a warm box for piglets) for the sows and a creep area for the piglets should be provided to prevent or reduce deaths as a result of piglets being trampled by the sow or as a result of cold, draughts, etc.

Make sure that all piglets suckle a teat as soon as possible after birth to take in colostrum. The
first milk produced by the sow immediately after the piglets are born is known as colostrum. It
plays an important role in the protection of the piglets against diseases during the first few weeks of their lives.

If a sow has more piglets than the number of teats she has, the extra piglets can be placed with another sow with a smaller number of piglets. This can only be done if the piglets of the sows are born within a few days of each other.
Sometimes a sow does not accept her own piglets, usually as a result of birth shock (often seen in sows having their first litter of piglets). If this happens the piglets can be taken away from the sow for a few hours. If she still refuses to accept them they should be placed with another sow if possible. Sows that do not accept their piglets or bite them must rather be slaughtered.
If another sow is not available to rear the rejected piglets, they can be reared artificially. It does, however, take time and hard work, because the piglets do not always grow and perform well.

Specific treatment of piglets:

Umbilical cord
Disinfect the umbilical cord after birth with an iodine solution or any other suitable disinfectant
to prevent bacterial infection.

Tusk clipping
Piglets have very sharp temporary tusks (or teeth) at birth which must be clipped to prevent
injuries to the teats of the sows during suckling. Use a tusk clipper or a nail cutter and do not clip the teeth too close to the gums. The very sharp temporary tusks (or teeth) of piglets should be clipped

Iron injections
The milk of the sow does not provide enough iron to piglets that are reared on concrete floors.
Piglets must therefore be injected with iron when they are three to seven days old to prevent
them from becoming anaemic which results in poor appetite and growth until they start eating
meal. In order to handle the piglets as little as possible clip the tusks and give the iron injection at he same time, about three days after birth. Injectable iron preparations for piglets can be bought and injected into the neck or buttocks. Not necessary required for outdoor farming.

Water and feed
Clean, fresh water placed at the back of the pen where the piglets will learn to dung is very
important. The sooner they start to drink water the better. Two to three weeks after birth they will start to nibble on feed placed away from the water near the creep area. Creep feed is expensive and they will not eat much before weaning, therefore only small quantities of feed must be given from two to three weeks of age. Increase the daily quantity gradually when they start eating to prevent wastage.

Do this and you will have little or no case of mortality with your weaners.

Hello sir, I'll like to come work and learn first hand from you. Where's your location please.

Kindly drop your contact sir, mine 08148041937