National Swine Reproduction Troubleshooting and Management Guide
Donald G. Levis, PhD
Levis Worldwide Swine Consultancy
5910 South 88th Street
Lincoln, NE 68526-9486
Email: donlevis@hotmail.com
A few years ago, I made a request to the United States Pork Center of Excellence (USPCE) that
they should develop educational materials to help pork producers, veterinarians and other allied
industry consultants troubleshoot reproductive problems on the sow-farm. I made the request
because there is very few university Extension Swine Specialists academically trained in
reproductive physiology that conduct on-farm swine visits and conduct training sessions. Thus,
there is very limited access for “grass-roots” pork producers to receive educational information
related to applied swine reproductive physiology. Reproductive performance is a major key for
success of the pork industry. On a daily basis, it is the management and caretakers that can
significantly impact the reproductive performance of the sow-farm. It is critically important that
management, consultants, and caretakers have access to “practical and useable” information to
help them solve reproductive problems.
Dr. David Meisinger (former CEO of USPCE) was receptive of my request to develop
educational materials related to reproduction of swine. Dr. Meisinger formed a team of
Extension Swine Specialists and scientists to prepare the National Swine Reproduction
Troubleshooting and Management Guide (Table 1).
Table 1. Authors of National Swine Reproduction Troubleshooting and Management Guide
Name
Specialty
Location
Donald G. Levis, PhD
Reproductive physiology
Levis Worldwide Swine Consultancy
(Chair of team)
Professor Emeritus-University of
Nebraska
Mark J. Estienne, PhD
Reproductive physiology
Virginia Tech
William F. Flowers, PhD
Reproductive physiology
North Carolina State University
Robert V. Knox, PhD
Reproductive physiology
University of Illinois
Wayne L. Singleton, PhD
Reproductive physiology
Purdue University
Professor Emeritus
Kenneth J. Stalder, PhD
Swine genetics
Iowa State University
Mark T. Knauer, PhD
Swine genetics
North Carolina State University
Timothy J. Safranski, PhD Swine genetics
University of Missouri
Rodney B. Baker, DVM
Swine veterinarian
Iowa State University
The National Swine Reproduction Troubleshooting and Management Guide (NSR-TMG) is a
web-based program that helps pork producers, veterinarians, and other allied industry consultants
solve reproductive problems. Although diseases (such as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory
Syndrome virus) can have significant effects on reproductive performance, numerous other nondisease factors can significantly decrease reproductive performance. The NSR-TMG is userfriendly and written in a manner that can be easily understood by caretakers. The NSR-TMG is
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organized into three themes: (1) Replacement gilt problems related to reproduction, (2) Sow
problems related to reproduction, and (3) Semen quality problems. Table 2 indicates the subdivisions within each theme. Table 3 indicates the size of the NSR-TMG document. User will
need to contact the National Pork Board to purchase a license to use the NSR-TMG program.
Table 2. Title and authors of the 10 modules
Title of module
Theme: Replacement Gilt Reproductive Problems
1
Puberty Attainment and Estrous Expression
2
Gilt Pool Too Small
3
Gilts: Low Litter Size
4
Gilts: Low Farrowing Rate
Theme: Sow Reproductive Problems
5
Sow longevity is low
6
Sows: Low Farrowing Rate
7
Sows: Low Litter Size
8
Extended Weaning-to-Service Interval
9
High Preweaning Mortality of Piglets
Theme: Semen Quality
10  Receiving, storing, and handling commercial or
off-site boar stud semen at the sow farm
 Collecting, processing, storing, and handling of
semen on the sow farm
Authors
Estienne and Levis
Levis, Stalder, and Estienne
Levis, Flowers and Baker
Levis and Baker
Stalder, Estienne, Levis and Baker
Levis, Baker and Knauer
Flowers, Levis and Baker
Knox, Levis and Baker
Levis, Safranski and Baker
Levis and Singleton
Table 3. Number of questions with answers, number of pages with questions and answers, and
number of pages with references by question of National Swine Reproduction Troubleshooting
and Management Guide
Number of
Number of pages
questions and
Questions & References
Total
answers
Item
answers
by questions pages
Gilt reproduction problem
189
112
47
159
 Puberty attainment
92
36
20
56
 Too small of gilt pool
52
29
13
42
 Low litter size
64
41
19
60
 Low farrowing rate
Sow reproduction problem
104
46
25
71
 Low sow longevity
121
81
36
117
 Low farrowing rate
77
48
21
69
 Low litter size
56
45
23
68
 Extended weaning-to-estrus
interval
189
109
44
153
 High pre-weaning mortality
Semen quality problem
89
31
14
45
 Semen quality
Total
1,033
578
262
840
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EXAMPLE FOR HOW PROGRAM IS USED
The user believes there is a problem with sows having a low number of piglets born per litter.
Step 1. The user selects a subject matter area where they think a problem is occurring. For this
example, the user would click “Problems with sows”.
●
●
●
Select a main category
Problems with replacement gilts
Problems with sows
Problems with semen quality
Step 2. The user selects a topic related to reproductive problems with sows. For this example,
the user would click “Sows have a low number of piglets born per litter”.
●
●
●
●
●
Select the problem with sows
Sow longevity is too low due to high replacement rate, culling rate, and
lameness
Sows have a low farrowing rate
Sows have a low number of piglets born per litter
Weaning-to-service interval is too long
Preweaning mortality is too high
Step 3. The user selects an item they believe could be related to low number of piglets born per
litter. The user selects only one item at a time. The user can return to this page and select other
items. For this example, the user clicks “Factors influencing number of piglets born alive”.
●
●
●
●
Select the item related to low number of piglets born per litter
Total born alive is less than 10 piglets
Factors influencing number of piglets born alive
Factors influencing high number of mummies per litter
Factors influencing high number of stillborns per litter
Step 4. After clicking “Factors influencing number of piglets born alive”, the user is
presented with a series of questions. The user can review all the answers to the questions or only
select the questions they want to see the answer that might be contributing to the reproductive
problem on their operation. For this example, the user believes that feed intake during lactation
might be contributing to the problem. Therefore, the user clicks “Is feed intake reduced during
lactation?”
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II. Factors influencing number of piglets born alive
A. Lactation management
Is the average weaning-to-estrus interval greater than 10 days?
Is feed intake reduced during lactation?
Is water consumption decreased during lactation?
Are the daily high temperatures in the barn consistently greater than 80 degrees F?
Do the sows have mastitis or inflammation around their underlines?
Does the lactation diet contain mycotoxins?
Are there sows with lactation lengths less than 16 days?
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Is bump weaning, partial-weaning, or split-suckling used during lactation?
B. Breeding and early gestation management
Is the average weaning-to-estrus interval normal (less than 10 days)?
1. Estrous detection
Are the sows exhibiting poor standing reflexes during estrus?
Are the sows given continuous exposure to boars?
Do the heat-check boars appear to be lazy?
Do the boars move quickly through the heat-check rows?
2. Quality of insemination procedures
Are ALL breeding technicians well trained to perform artificial inseminations?
Are ALL breeding technicians motivated/dedicated to properly perform artificial
inseminations?
Are sows bred a set number of times without checking for estrus?
Are the AM and PM matings of the same sow administered less than 6 hours apart?
Does the herd have a high percentage of sows bred for 3 days with the standing reflex of the
sows on the third day being poor?
Do most sows seem to show a poor standing reflex during matings?
Does it take a long time for most sows to accept semen during traditional insemination?
Is the volume of semen inseminated at least 70 to 80 mL?
(a) Inseminating with an intrauterine catheter procedure
Are sows heat-checked at least 1 hour prior to insemination?
Are boars absent during the insemination process?
Is a dose of semen delivered into the uterus by a bulk bag procedure?
Is at least 35 mL of semen and at least 2.5 billion viable sperm deposited into the uterus?
Are the sows exposed to boar stimuli after all sows have been inseminated?
3. Semen quality
Do doses of semen contain less than 20% abnormal sperm cells and at least 70% motile
sperm?
Does the sow farm randomly evaluate doses of semen for motility at arrival and before use?
Do doses of semen have a high concentration of bacteria?
Does the sow farm have a third-party evaluate doses of semen?
Are insemination doses stored at a temperature between 60.8 and 64.4 F prior to
insemination?
Has the on-farm semen cooler been checked to determine its accuracy in controlling
temperature?
Is temperature of semen cooler monitored and recorded daily?
Are doses of semen rotated at least once daily and time of rotation recorded?
Is all semen used within three to four days after collected?
Is age of semen at time of use recorded?
Is an appropriate semen extender used with respect to age of semen at time of use?
Are at least 2 billion “viable” sperm cells used per dose when inseminating with traditional AI
catheter and procedure?
4. Reproductive diseases and toxins
Is the herd positive for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus?
Is the herd positive for other reproductive or non-reproductive diseases?
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Are sows routinely vaccinated for other diseases during the first 30 days of gestation?
Does the gestation diet contain mycotoxins?
Does drinking water for sows have high concentrations of minerals, heavy metals, or bacteria?
5. Housing and Environment
Are the daily high temperatures in the breeding-gestation barn consistently greater than 80
degrees F?
Are sows moved carefully from breeding barn to gestation crates or pens?
6. Genetics
Are sows moved carefully from breeding barn to gestation crates or pens?
Is number born alive for gilt-litters less than 7?
Does number born alive routinely begin to decrease after parity 3?
Step 5: After the user clicks on “Is feed intake reduced during lactation?”, the following answer
is presented to the user:
Poor feed intake causes loss of body tissue which affects ovulation rate and uterine recovery.
These factors can lead to low numbers of embryos.
Inadequate feed intake is a major factor that delays recovery of the brain and uterus during
lactation. Sows that lose increased amount of body condition during lactation have delayed
weaning-to-estrus intervals; poor estrous responses; reduced ovulation rates; increased
embryonic death loss; and low number of pigs born alive (Figure 1) [Aherne and Kirkwood,
1985; Cole, D.J.A. 1990].
It is critically important to get lactating sows on full-feed as soon as possible after farrowing.
Table 1 is a suggested feeding strategy for lactating sows (DeRouchy et al., 2007). As indicated
in Table 2, sows will eat a substantial amount of feed during the night (41%) when feed is
available.
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Table 1. Feeding strategy for lactating sows (DeRouchy et al., 2007)
Feed provided at each feeding from day 0 to 2 of lactation, lb
Time of day feeding
Feed in feeder
AM
Noon
PM
Total
Empty
4
--4
8
< 2 lbs
0
--2
2
> 2 lbs
0
--0
0
Feed provided at each feeding from day 2 of lactation to weaning, lb
Time of day feeding
Feed in feeder
AM
Noon
PM
Total
Empty
8
8
8
24
< 2 lbs
4
4
8
16
> 2 lbs
0
0
4
4
Table 2. Feed intake of multiparous sows when fed ad libitum from 7 to 21 days of
lactation during summer (Howdyshell et al., 2007)
Time of day
Feed consumed, lbs
Percentage of total feed
6 PM to Midnight
2.44
0.17
Midnight to 6 AM
3.37
0.24
6 AM to Noon
5.51
0.39
Noon to 6 PM
2.76
0.20
Total: 14.09
1.00
Room temperatures: Farm 1, 73.4 to 78.8 F; Farm 2, 73.4 to 87.8 F
Step 6. The user has the option of reviewing the list of references by clicking on a box called
REFERENCES. If the reference box is clicked, the following information is presented.
Aherne, F.X. and Kirkwood, R.N. 1985. Nutrition and sow prolificacy. Journal of Reproduction
and Fertility Supplement 33:169-183.
Cole, D.J.A. 1990. Nutritional strategies to optimize reproduction in pigs. Journal of
Reproduction and Fertility Supplement 40:67-82.
DeRouchey J. M., Dritz S. S., Goodband R. D., Nelssen J. L., Tokach M. D. 2007. Breeding
Herd Recommendations for Swine, KSU Swine Nutrition Guide, Kansas State University,
October 2007. http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/bookstore/pubs/MF2302.pdf. Accessed May 20, 2013.
Howdyshell R. E., Mahan D. C., Levis D. G. 2007. Determination of diurnal feed intake pattern
of multiparous lactating sows when fed ad libitum. Journal of Animal Science 85 (Supplement
2):140 (Abstract 321).
Thaker M. Y. C., Bilkei G. 2005. Lactation weight loss influences subsequent reproductive
performance of sows. Animal Reproduction Science 88:309-318.
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Step 7. The user has the option of clicking the BACK button to return to the questions for this
section or clicking a RETUN button to go to Step 3 to select other items related to low litter size.
The other questions related to mummies and stillborn piglets are indicated below.
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III. Factors influencing the number of mummies per litter
Is the percentage of mummies per litter 2.5% or more?
Does the number of mummies increase as litter size increases above 10 piglets?
A. Reproductive diseases and toxins
Is the herd positive for Parvovirus?
Is the herd positive for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRS)?
Is the herd positive for other reproductive or non-reproductive diseases?
Are sows routinely vaccinated for other diseases between days 35 and 100 of gestation?
Does the gestation diet contain mycotoxins?
Does drinking water for gilts have high concentrations of minerals, heavy metals, or bacteria?
B. Housing and environment
Are the daily high temperatures in the breeding-gestation barn consistently greater than 80
degrees F?
Are sows regrouped during gestation between days 35 and 100?
Are sows moved from one gestation stall to another between days 35 and 100 of gestation?
Are sows pregnancy checked with an ultrasound device between days 35 and 100 of
gestation?
IV. Factors influencing the number of stillborn piglets per litter
Is the percentage of stillbirths per litter 7.5% or more?
Does the number of stillborns increase as litter size increases above 10 piglets?
A. Gestation length and farrowing process
Are sows having gestation lengths less than 111 days?
Are sows having gestation lengths greater than 120 days?
Are sows being induced to farrow?
Are sows being assisted during farrowing?
Is the duration of farrowing longer than 2 hours in problem litters?
B. Housing and environment
Are the daily high temperatures in the gestation and farrowing barn consistently greater than
80 degrees F?
Does the ventilation rate in the farrowing barn prevent build-up of carbon monoxide from
unvented heaters?
Are sows carefully moved from the gestation barn to farrowing crates?
C. Reproductive disease and toxins
Is the herd positive for Leptospirosis?
Is the herd positive for Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRS)?
Is the herd positive for other reproductive or non-reproductive diseases?
Are sows routinely vaccinated for other diseases after day 100 of gestation?
Does the gestation diet contain mycotoxins?
Does drinking water for sows have high concentrations of minerals, heavy metals, or bacteria?
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If the user wants to solve a problem with pre-weaning mortality of piglets, they would use the
same procedure as previously shown. The questions presented to the user are indicated below.
Because of the numerous pages of questions for the other modules, the questions are not included
in this paper.
Main theme: Sow Reproduction Problems
Topic: Pre-weaning Mortality of Piglets
Authors: Don Levis (Levis Worldwide Swine Consultancy), Tim Safranski (University of
Missouri), and Rodney Baker (Iowa State University)
QID
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I. Piglet mortality is high during farrowing and first 24 hours after birth.
A. Sow care prior to farrowing
Have sows been heat-stressed during the last two weeks of gestation?
Have sows consumed feed containing mycotoxins during gestation?
Have sows been provided ad libitum access to good quality water during gestation?
Are sows too fat entering the farrowing facility?
Are lame sows entering the farrowing facility?
Are large sows entering the farrowing facility?
B. Day one pig care
Has procedures for care of piglets during first day of life been carefully evaluated by
caretakers?
Are all caretakers motivated, supportive and complying with day 1 pig care protocol?
Have appropriate supplies been put in container prior to arrival of first piglet?
Has the number of functional nipples been recorded on sow card?
Has the number of piglets weaned the previous litter been recorded on sow card?
Are farrowing sows observed every 10 to 20 minutes?
Are management activities recorded on sow card, i.e. oxytocin injection, piglets pulled, etc.?
Are all piglets given special care during the first day after birth?
Are newborn piglets dried with a drying compound or towel?
Are newborn piglets placed in a heated (85 to 90 F) container for 15 to 20 minutes while
drying?
Is the time that piglets are placed in heated container recorded?
After drying period are piglets placed by the udder and assisted with learning how to nurse?
Do all piglets receive a "stomach-full" of colostrum?
Are first born piglets marked and removed after stomach is full (within 2 hours of birth)?
During first day, are weak/small piglets allowed to nurse for 90 minutes while largest piglets
are kept in the hot box?
Are weak/small piglets fed additional colostrum with a stomach tube?
Is cross-fostering used when a sow gives birth to more piglets than she has functional
nipples?
Are cross-fostering procedures correctly accomplished?
Is all cross-fostering completed within 18 hours after birth?
Because of smaller nipples, are gilts used as nurse sows?
C. Stillborn piglets
Is the percentage of stillborn piglets too high (i.e. greater than 7%)?
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Does the ventilation rate prevent build-up of carbon monoxide from unvented heaters?
Is the gestation length less than 112 days for problem sow?
Is the gestation length greater than 120 days of problems sows?
Are sows induced to farrow more than 2 days prior to their due date?
Is oxytocin used in combination with prostaglandin to induce farrowing?
Does the number of stillborns increase as litter size increases above 12 piglets?
Do most of the stillborns occur during the last 1/3 of parturition?
Do stillborn piglets have a lighter birth weight?
Is the duration of farrowing longer than 2 hours in problem litters?
Are sows assisted during the farrowing process?
Have sows been heat-stressed during the last two weeks of gestation?
Is the herd positive for Leptospirosis and PRRSV?
Does the body temperature of sows increase after vaccination?
Does the feed contain mycotoxins?
Have sows been limited on water consumption?
Have group-housed sows been stressed by regrouping during gestation?
Do group-housed sows have adequate pen space and access to feed and water?
Are sows carefully moved in a stress-free manner from gestation to farrowing facilities?
D. Crushing/lying on piglets
Are too many piglets (greater than 6%) being crushed or laid on?
1. Farrowing facilities
Sows are farrowed in traditional farrowing crates
Are sows moved to farrowing at least two days prior to farrowing?
Do farrowing crates have a method to prevent sows from lying down quickly?
Are the piglets lying next to the sow's udder during the day of farrowing?
Is the creep area heated at correct temperature on both sides of the farrowing stall?
Has the creep area been checked for drafts?
Does the creep area have a heated hover with correct temperature?
Are sows frequently changing position from lying to standing and vice versa?
Is the farrowing room too hot for the sows?
Is the floor of the farrowing stall too slick for the sow to easily stand-up?
Sows are farrowed in open pens with a hinged farrowing stall
Is the farrowing facility designed for worker safety?
Are sows moved to farrowing facility at least two days prior to farrowing?
Within the open pen, are sows kept in a farrowing stall during the day of farrowing?
Are the piglets lying next to the sow's udder during the day of farrowing?
Is there a heated creep area somewhere along the perimeter of the open pen?
Are there drafts within the open pen?
Are piglet guard rails installed along the perimeter of the pen?
Are sows frequently changing position from lying to standing and vice versa?
Is the farrowing room too hot for the sows?
Is the farrowing pen floor solid concrete and too slick?
Sows are farrowed in open pens
Is the farrowing facility designed for worker to safely assist sows during farrowing?
Are sows moved to farrowing facility at least two days prior to farrowing?
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QID
Are the piglets lying next to the sow's udder during the day of farrowing?
Is there a heated creep area somewhere along the perimeter of the open pen?
Are there drafts within the open pen?
Are piglet guard rails installed along the perimeter of the pen?
Are sows frequently changing position from lying to standing and vice versa?
Is the farrowing room too hot for the sows?
Is the farrowing pen floor solid concrete and too slick?
E. Litter size, birth weight and birth order
Are there signs of asphyxia during birth (meconium staining)?
Are weak piglets born in a litter of 12 or more piglets?
Is the birth weight of weak piglets 2 lb or less?
Is the interval between births of piglets longer for weak piglets?
Are more weak piglets born toward the end of farrowing?
Are more weak piglets found when duration of farrowing is longer between the 1st and last
piglet born?
F. Mammary glands and piglet behavior
Are all newborn piglets reaching the sow's udder within 20 minutes after birth?
Are all newborn piglets starting to suckle within 29 minutes after birth?
When piglets are 1 day old, are weak or small piglets suckling rear teats?
When piglets are 1 day old, are weak or small piglets suckling a well-functioning mammary
gland?
Based on the previous number weaned, were all mammary glands nursed previously?
Are weak piglets missing nursing periods?
When pigs are 1 day old, do weak or small pigs appear hungry (massaging gland) after a
nursing period?
Do smaller piglets spend more time in teat disputes during nursing than heavier littermates?
Do weak or small piglets nurse steadily for about 15 to 20 seconds when milk let-down
occurs?
Is the sow's udder fully expose during nursing periods for weak and small piglets?
G. Savaging of piglets
Is the rate of sows savaging piglets greater than 3%?
Is the rate of savaging higher for first-litter sows than multiparous sows?
Do savaging first-litter sows appear restless prior to farrowing?
Are first-litter sows moved into farrowing facility 3 days before due date?
Are first-litter sows handled with patience and care when moved into farrowing facility?
Does most of the savaging occurring during the first 2 hours after birth of first piglet?
Do savaging sows spend time lying on their abdomen during the first 2 hours after birth of
first piglet?
Do savaging sows frequently change posture during the first 2 hours after birth of first piglet?
Have savaged piglets been cross-fostered onto a first-litter sow?
Do savaging first-litter sows appear to be afraid of people?
Do savaging first-litter sows savage piglets during their second litter?
Are lights on during the night when sows are farrowing?
II. Piglet mortality is high during days 2 to 3 after birth.
A. Farrowing facilities and management
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Sows are farrowed in traditional farrowing stalls.
Are sows moved to farrowing facility at least two days prior to farrowing?
Do farrowing crates have a method to prevent sows from lying down quickly?
Is the creep area heated on both sides of the farrowing crate?
Has the entire creep area been checked for drafts and temperature?
Does the creep area have a heated hover?
Is passage in front and behind the sow wide enough for piglets to easily cross?
Is the farrowing room too hot for the sows?
Is the floor of the farrowing stall too slick for the sow to easily stand-up?
Sows are farrowed in open pens with a hinged farrowing.
Are sows moved to farrowing facility at least two days prior to farrowing?
Is the farrowing facility designed for caretaker safety?
Are sows kept in the farrowing stall during days 2 to 3 after farrowing?
Is passage in front and behind sow wide enough for piglets to easily cross?
Does the open pen have a covered and heated creep area?
Has the entire creep area been checked for drafts and temperature?
Are there drafts within the open pen?
Are there piglet guard rails along the perimeter of the farrowing pen?
Is the farrowing room too hot for the sows?
Is the farrowing pen floor solid concrete and too slick?
Sows are farrowed in open pens.
Are sows moved to farrowing facility at least two days prior to farrowing?
Is the farrowing facility designed for caretakers to safely assist piglets within one minute of
being laid on?
Does the open pen have a covered and heated creep area?
Has the heated creep area been checked for drafts and temperature?
Are drafts found within the open pen?
Are piglet guard rails appropriately placed along the perimeter of the pen?
Is the farrowing room too hot for the sows?
Is the farrowing pen floor solid concrete and too slick?
Is straw used for nest building and bedding?
B. Sow behavior and structural soundness
Are sows frequently changing position (lying to standing, setting to lying, or rolling over in
open pens)?
Do sows that crush more piglets take less care when lying down?
Do large body sows crush more piglets than smaller sows?
Do sows crushing piglets have feet and leg soundness problems?
Do problem sows spend a lot of time lying on their abdomen?
Do problem sows nurse at the same time as other sows in the room?
Is the sow's udder fully exposed during nursing periods for weak and small piglets?
C. Mammary glands and piglet behavior when using farrowing stalls or open pens
Are piglets lying next to the sow's udder during days 2 to 3 days after farrowing?
Is straw bedding used to help keep piglets warm?
Are piglets scattered throughout the straw-bedded pen while sleeping?
Did all piglets receive colostrum during first 12 hours after birth?
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When piglets are 2 to 3 days old, are weak or small piglets suckling rear nipples?
Based on the previous number weaned, were all mammary glands nursed previously?
When pigs are 2 to 3 days old, are weak or small pigs suckling a well-developed and
functioning mammary gland?
Are weak or small piglets missing nursing periods?
When pigs are 2 to 3 days old, do weak or small pigs appear hungry (massaging glands) after
a nursing period?
Do smaller piglets spend more time in teat disputes during nursing than heavier littermates?
Are fall-behind piglets identified early and placed on a nurse sow?
Do sows have MMA syndrome (mastitis, metritis and agalactia)?
D. Health aspects of piglets and sows
Are all piglets carefully observed daily?
Are sick piglets identified early and treated?
Are sows and gilts vaccinated at the appropriate times to prevent sickness in piglets?
Do more male piglets die than female piglets?
Do caretakers step in pen as few of times as possible to prevent spread of diseases?
III. Piglet mortality is high after day 3 of birth to weaning.
A. Farrowing facility
Can piglets easily cross in front or behind sows in crates?
Are piglets getting stuck under feed trough or other places in the pen?
Are piglets lying next to the sow's udder?
Are piglets piling in the heated-area?
Is adequate space available for all piglets to lie in the heated area?
Has the entire creep area been checked for drafts and temperature?
Does the creep area have a heated hover?
Is the sow and piglet floor area designed and managed for daily cleanliness?
Is the floor too slick for sows to easily get up and lay down?
Is the sow cooling system correctly working during hot weather?
Is an all-in-all-out procedure used for the farrowing facility?
Is an excellent cleaning and disinfecting program used between farrowing groups?
B. Sow behavior and structural soundness
Are sows frequently changing position (lying to standing, setting to lying, or rolling over in
open pens)?
Do sows that crush more piglets take less care when lying down?
Do large body sows crush more piglets than smaller sows?
Do sows crushing piglets have feet and leg soundness problems?
Do problem sows spend a lot of time lying on their abdomen?
Do problem sows nurse at the same time as other sows in the room?
Is the sow's udder fully exposed during nursing periods for weak and small piglets?
C. Mammary glands, piglet behavior and management
When piglets are 4 or more days old, are weak or small piglets suckling rear teats?
Based on the previous number weaned, were all mammary glands nursed previously?
When pigs are 4 or more days old, are weak or small pigs suckling a well-developed and
functioning mammary gland?
Are weak or small piglets missing nursing periods?
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When pigs are 4 or more days old, do weak or small piglets appear hungry (massaging gland)
after nursing periods?
Do smaller piglets spend more time in teat disputes during nursing than heavier littermates?
Is the sow’s udder fully exposed during nursing for weak and small piglets?
Are specifically designed artificial rearing boxes used?
Are fall-behind piglets identified on day 4, placed in a heated rescue system and artificially
reared?
Are piglets correctly managed in the artificial rearing system?
Is the artificial rearing system correctly managed?
D. Health aspects of piglets and sows
Do sows have MMA syndrome (mastitis, metritis and agalactia)?
Are all piglets carefully observed daily?
Are sick piglets identified early and treated?
Are sows and gilts vaccinated at the appropriate times to prevent sickness in piglets?
Do more male piglets die than female piglets?
Do caretakers step in pen as few of times as possible?
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