1. PIGLET MANAGEMENT - 2 (Birth to Weaning)

2. Avoid moving individual piglets around. Identify and move fall-outs by 5-7 d of age. Otherwise leave them put. What is a fall-out?

3. Other names Fall-backs, runts Smaller, less active piglet 2 to 7 days of age

4. What is a fall-out? Bony and angular Flat belly Loose skin Hairy

5. Fall-outs Nursing a poor producing teat Shy, non-aggressive pig missing feedings Many flourish with better milk access

6. Several fall-outs Teat problems Teat access

7. Dealing with poor milk supply Several pigs in litter affected Treat for mastitis Milk replacer Creep feed Single pig in litter (i. e., fall-back) Many will flourish with more milk Nurse sows

8. A fall-out to move Doesn’t join littermates to nurse Not selected a teat Shy, timid 10 littermates

9. Key points Avoid moving individual fall-backs Move 8 to 10 fall-backs at once to a nurse sow Identify and move fall-backs by 5-7 day of age Otherwise leave them put

10. WEANING WEIGHT - Targets 8 kg if weaned at 4 weeks 6 kg if weaned at 3 weeks > 4 kg if weaned at 17 days If poor check: Litter size Birth weight Sow condition/ feed intake / milk production Cross fostering Creep feeding management Health, hygiene, environment

11. Feed Intake In Newly Weaned Piglets On the sow piglets eat > 12 times a day: -Frequent small meals On the sow piglets eat together: -Plenty of feeder space, no separation of feeder spaces Pigs have a tremendous sense of smell: -Clean feeders -Frequently remove stale feed

12. Piglet Diseases Frequently observe pigs for signs of disease so prompt treatment is possible congenital defect seen is herniation (2%), followed by cryptorchidism (1-2%

13. Diarrhea (scours) and dehydration Diarrhea (scours) Normal, bright yellow, solid fecal material A dehydrated piglet

14. E. coli Should affect < 3% of litters Mostly 1-5 days of age Main defense -Antibiotics in milk Treat entire litter with antibiotics -Gentamicin -Spectinomycin Access to water

15. Difficulty walking and standing, trembling or comatose Hypoglycemia -Low blood sugar Streptococcus suis -Strep suis -Strep meningitis Swollen hock joint

16. Swollen joints Bacterial infection Identify/treat early -Penicillin Severely swollen -Treatment ineffective -Euthanize

17. Other conditions Vomiting Rough hair coat, sluggishness, huddling

18. Greasy, Sticky and Dirty Skin Staphylococcus hyicus invades skin Antibiotic therapy when symptoms appear Wash piglet; treat topically Minimize cuts in skin and dirty equipment

19. Some Disadvantaged Pigs Should Be Euthanized Acceptable: Barbiturates, CO2, potassium chloride in conjunction with general anesthesia, penetrating captive bolt Conditional: Inhalant anesthetics, CO, chloral hydrate (IV, after sedation), gunshot, electrocution, blow to the head (< 3 weeks of age) Carbon dioxide Electrocution Anesthetic overdose Blunt trauma

20. National Pork Board P.O. Box 9114 Des Moines, IA 50306 USA PHONE: (515) 223-2600 FAX: (515) 223-2646 E-MAIL: porkboard@porkboard.org WEB: http://www.porkboard.org Practicing proper euthanasia techniques that are appropriate for the size of the pig is one of the single most important elements to responsibly address animal welfare.

21. Dead pig/placenta disposal Remove dead pigs/placenta promptly Incineration

22. Questions?

23. References http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/swine/bio/g row/nursing/hm.html http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/projects/swine/bio/g row/nursing/hm.html http://www.ncsu.edu/project/swine_extensio n/ncporkconf/2002/lay.htm http://www.ncsu.edu/project/swine_extensio n/ncporkconf/2002/lay.htm http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/ default.asp