Prevention Works

• 5 minutes

Early and excessive iron supplementation can negatively influence health

Piglets are born with minimal iron-reserves (40 mg). This low iron concentration is a natural defence mechanism directed at combatting bacterial infections during and after birth.

Sow milk provides piglets with about 1 mg Iron/day. With a daily need of about 7 mg there is only sufficient iron for about 4 to 5 days.

• 5 minutes

Systematics in sucking pig management:

 Checklist for a good start

1. Number of functional teats checked and recorded 

2. A number of  pigs, to leave two fewer piglets than the number of functional teats, are fostered out of a litter 

• 5 minutes

Although fostering is often necessary in highly prolific sow units, there are significant risks associated with the procedure:

• 10 minutes

A frequent observation: after a treatment (injection, etc.) stressed piglets may not suckle for several hours. This has negative consequences for the development of the piglets and may result in milk-congestion in the sow.