Released: February 15, 2006

K-State Offers Farrowing, Weaning Tips

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The farrowing season can be hectic for a small herd swine producer, especially if he or she has few or no helping hands available. But, with good management and organization skills, producers can reduce some of the stress, said Sara Linneen, Kansas State University swine nutrition graduate student.

“Fetal development and size increases significantly during the last two to three weeks of gestation,” said Linneen “Some producers cut back their sows’ daily feed intake during the last two weeks because they’re afraid of having dystocia problems due to larger piglet sizes.”

Studies show that during the last few weeks of gestation, however, feed intake should actually be slightly increased because the piglets grow so much, she said. One thing that producers never want to do is to skip feedings right before a sow farrows.

Some producers think that this helps the sow during farrowing. But, hungry sows can turn catabolic and break down their muscle proteins in order to supplement the growing piglets. That will result in subsequent feed intake problems, said Bob Goodband, K-State Research and Extension swine specialist.

Overfeeding during gestation can result in sows not wanting to eat during lactation, Linneen said. Sows with more than 0.9 inch of back-fat right before giving birth have probably been overfed.

Sows require close attention in the last couple of weeks of gestation, she said. By spending time with sows each day and monitoring them, producers will be able to better tell when one is close to giving birth.

The recommended date that a sow should be placed in a farrowing crate is approximately two to three days before her due date.

“Economically, two to three days is recommended because it cuts back on labor and extra expenses from having the sow in the crate, but it reduces the risk of piglets being born in the wrong environment,” Linneen said.

Signs of labor include restlessness and nervous behavior such as standing and then lying down frequently. A sow that is very close to birth will also have milk letdown and should be checked about once every hour.

After the first piglet is born, there should be about a 30 minute interval between each pig thereafter, Linneen said. If it’s been an hour or more, she may have a problem such as a breached pig. The total birth process should last about four to five hours on average.

After farrowing, sows should be fed a lactation diet consisting of 1 percent lysine and 18-19 percent crude protein, said Goodband. It is important to feed sows about as much as they’ll eat during lactation.

“Producers should ear-notch piglets within 24 hours after birth or within a few days to make it less traumatic,” Linneen said. “Recent data has shown that producers no longer need to clip needle teeth in a 21-day weaning schedule. On a 28-day schedule, however, it is recommended.”

Piglets also need a shot of iron shortly after birth to help prevent anemia, she said.

Producers following a 28-day weaning schedule may choose to start piglets on a creep feed diet before weaning as an alternative nutrient source and to make the transition to the nursery easier.

Sows should be ready for rebreeding three to seven days after weaning, Linneen said.

More information on swine nutrition and care is available at county and district K-State Research and Extension offices or on the Extension Web site at: http://www.asi.ksu.edu/  and click on “species” and then “swine.”

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Leah Bond
lbond@ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News