How to Reduce Piglet Deaths Before Weaning

Pre-weaning piglet mortality is a major challenge in pig farming, impacting productivity and profitability. The period between birth and weaning is the most vulnerable phase for piglets, with common causes of mortality including crushing by the sow, cold stress, inadequate colostrum intake, diseases, and poor management practices.

Reducing piglet mortality requires proper farrowing management, nutrition, environmental control, and disease prevention strategies.

This guide will discuss the key factors contributing to piglet deaths before weaning and provide actionable steps to minimize losses and ensure healthier, thriving litters.

Understanding Pre-Weaning Piglet Mortality

Pre-weaning mortality refers to the death of piglets between birth and weaning, typically occurring between 21 and 28 days of age. The global average mortality rate ranges from 10% to 20%, but well-managed farms can reduce this to below 8%.

Common Causes of Piglet Mortality

Several factors contribute to piglet losses before weaning. Crushing by the sow is one of the most common causes, particularly in large litters where piglets are weak or slow-moving. Cold stress and hypothermia are also major risks, as newborn piglets struggle to regulate their body temperature.

Inadequate colostrum intake weakens piglets and makes them more susceptible to infections. Bacterial and viral diseases, such as E. coli, Clostridium infections, and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), can also lead to high mortality rates.

Additionally, malnutrition and weak piglets that fail to compete for milk are at higher risk of death.

Poor environmental conditions, including overcrowding, poor hygiene, and inadequate ventilation, further increase stress and disease susceptibility. Farmers must focus on farrowing management, piglet care, environmental control, and disease prevention to effectively reduce pre-weaning piglet mortality.

The Effective Strategies to Reduce Pre-Weaning Piglet Mortality

Optimal Farrowing Management

The farrowing period is the most critical stage in piglet survival, and proper management during this time can significantly reduce mortality rates. To protect piglets, farrowing crates or pens are essential. These crates help prevent sows from accidentally crushing their piglets by limiting their movement.

The crates must be spacious enough for the sow to stand, lie down, and move comfortably without causing stress, ensuring a safer environment for both the sow and the piglets.

Supervising the farrowing process is also key to reducing piglet mortality. Being present during farrowing allows the farmer to assist piglets that may become stuck or struggle to nurse. Once piglets are born, it’s important to dry them immediately and place them under a heat source to prevent hypothermia.

Additionally, weaker piglets should be fostered to sows with smaller litters, as this can improve their chances of survival by providing them with better access to the sow’s milk.

Encouraging colostrum intake within the first 12 hours of birth is vital for piglet health, as colostrum provides essential immunity against infections. If a piglet is too weak to suckle, assisted feeding using milk replacers or bottle feeding can be provided to ensure they receive the necessary nutrients and immune protection.

Preventing Crushing Deaths

Crushing is a leading cause of pre-weaning piglet mortality, but with proper management techniques, it can be minimized. One effective way to prevent crushing is by providing a creep area. This involves creating a warm, safe zone for piglets away from the sow, which helps reduce the risk of piglets being accidentally crushed.

Installing heat lamps or heated pads in the creep area encourages piglets to rest there, promoting their safety and well-being while keeping them away from the sow during resting periods.

Another important strategy is ensuring proper sow management. Keeping the sow comfortable and stress-free helps reduce excessive movement, which is a common cause of crushing incidents. A well-balanced, nutritious diet for lactating sows also helps keep the sow calm and reduces unnecessary restlessness.

When the sow is content and healthy, she is less likely to accidentally harm her piglets, which ultimately improves survival rates.

Controlling Temperature and Environmental Conditions

Newborn piglets are unable to regulate their body temperature, making them highly susceptible to hypothermia, which can significantly increase mortality rates. To protect piglets from this risk, it's essential to maintain an optimal temperature in the farrowing area.

Immediately after birth, the temperature should be kept between 30–35°C (86–95°F), and this can be gradually reduced as the piglets grow. Heat lamps, heating pads, or infrared bulbs can be used to provide warmth, while care should be taken to avoid cold drafts that could cause chilling.

In addition to temperature control, it is vital to keep the environment dry and clean to prevent the spread of diseases. A damp and dirty environment can lead to bacterial infections, including diarrhea, which can be deadly for piglets.

Using absorbent bedding materials and changing them regularly helps maintain a dry and hygienic farrowing pen. This also creates a safer and more comfortable environment for both the sow and her piglets.

By ensuring that the farrowing area remains warm, clean, and dry, farmers can significantly reduce the risks of hypothermia and infections, improving piglet survival rates during this vulnerable period. These environmental factors play a crucial role in promoting the overall health and well-being of newborn piglets.

Proper Nutrition for Piglets and Sows

Nutrition plays a crucial role in piglet survival and growth, and ensuring that both sows and piglets receive adequate nutrition is essential for reducing mortality rates. To support optimal piglet health, it is important to ensure the sow’s diet is nutrient-rich.

A balanced diet for the lactating sow enhances milk production, providing piglets with the necessary nutrients for strong and healthy growth. Including sufficient protein, vitamins, and minerals in the sow's diet will ensure that she can nourish her piglets effectively, giving them the best chance at surviving and thriving in their early weeks.

In addition to ensuring the sow's diet is appropriate, monitoring piglet growth and feeding is key to reducing pre-weaning mortality. Regularly weighing piglets allows farmers to track their growth and identify any that may be underweight. If some piglets are not gaining weight at a healthy rate, supplemental feeding or fostering them to another sow with a smaller litter can be considered to improve their chances of survival.

By addressing any nutritional deficiencies early on, farmers can help ensure that all piglets can grow at a healthy pace, leading to stronger, more resilient animals.

By focusing on proper nutrition for both the sow and the piglets, farmers can improve survival rates and overall growth. Ensuring nutrient-rich diets and closely monitoring piglet progress are crucial steps in creating a healthy, thriving herd.

Disease Prevention and Hygiene Management

Disease outbreaks can lead to high piglet mortality, making hygiene and biosecurity a top priority for farmers. Implementing a strict biosecurity plan is essential to reduce the risk of disease introduction. One key strategy is to restrict visitor access to the farm, limiting potential sources of infection.

In addition, farrowing crates and equipment should be thoroughly disinfected before each use to eliminate any pathogens that could harm the piglets. By maintaining a clean and controlled environment, farmers can significantly reduce the likelihood of disease outbreaks.

In addition to preventing disease introduction, it is crucial to monitor piglets for early signs of illness. Common symptoms of disease in piglets include diarrhea, lethargy, and poor appetite. Early identification of these signs can prevent the spread of infections to other piglets.

Piglets showing signs of illness should be immediately isolated and treated to minimize the impact on the rest of the herd. Quick intervention is critical to preventing the spread of disease and improving the chances of recovery for affected piglets.

Lastly, a comprehensive vaccination and deworming program plays a vital role in protecting piglets from common diseases and parasites. A strict vaccination schedule should be followed to protect piglets from diseases such as E. coli, porcine circovirus, and PRRS.

Additionally, regular deworming helps prevent internal parasites, which can weaken piglets and make them more vulnerable to infections.

The Role of Technology in Reducing Piglet Mortality

Technology-driven farm management solutions can significantly enhance piglet survival rates by providing better monitoring and record-keeping. Tools like the My Piggery Manager Farm App allow farmers to streamline their operations and ensure the health and well-being of their piglets.

By utilizing these digital tools, farmers can track health records for each piglet, ensuring that they are aware of any health issues that may arise and can take swift action when necessary.

The app also enables farmers to record vaccinations and deworming schedules, which are essential in preventing diseases and parasites that can negatively impact piglet health. Additionally, it provides a convenient way to monitor growth rates, helping farmers detect underperforming piglets early and take corrective measures to improve their health. Early identification of growth issues allows for timely intervention, ultimately leading to better survival rates.

Conclusion

Reducing pre-weaning piglet mortality is essential for maintaining a healthy and productive pig farm. By implementing strategies such as effective farrowing management, proper nutrition, maintaining optimal environmental conditions, and preventing disease outbreaks, farmers can significantly improve piglet survival rates.

Additionally, adopting technology-driven solutions like farm management software can streamline the monitoring and care of piglets, leading to better health outcomes and lower mortality. Through these combined efforts, farmers can ensure the long-term success and profitability of their farms. By focusing on the well-being of piglets during their most vulnerable stage, pig farmers can build a strong foundation for a thriving and sustainable operation.