It should always be the goal to create an ideal thermal environment for both the high performing sow and her offspring.
The correct day of farrowing (often d117-d118) is critical when dealing with hyperprolific sows. Farrowings that progress smoothly and take place in a quiet environment, where the sow releases large amounts of colostrum and can suckle her piglets without interruption should be seen as the” ideal” and the objective for every farrowing. Special care to create this environment for first parity sows which may be particularly fearful will benefit them particularly.
The highest level of reproductive performance will be found on farms where feed intake is adjusted to the need of each individual sow. For this reason it is necessary to have a farm-specific feeding regime where the body condition of each individual sow pre-farrowing is documented and feeding adjusted accordingly on a sow by sow basis.
Recondition skinny sows during gestation
Increase the quantity of feed from d85 of gestation onwards: this will maximise the glycogen reserves of the newly born piglets
Ensure farm-specific vaccination schemes (in collaboration with herd vet) are complied with to result in: Stable immunity of sows as well as their piglets via colostrum-intake Optimal embryonic development
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