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 agalactia
Cause: 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.