Although fostering is often necessary in highly prolific sow units, there are significant risks associated with the procedure:
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.
Hypogalactia is likely to result in malnutrition of suckling pigs.
The sow should lie in a recumbent position and invite piglets with specific sounds expressing the desire for milk let-down. Piglets will normally try to have facial contact with the sow’s head to stimulate milk release. To ensure optimal interaction between a sow and her piglets, it is important to avoid treating piglets during the first 10 days after birth and, thereafter, when multiple treatments are required, they should be grouped together to minimize the number of interventions.
Should a piglet fail to ingest any colostrum, its chance of survival is almost zero!
The concentrations of immunoglobulin (IgG and IgA) decrease rapidly within a few hours of birth. The timing and quantity of colostrum-intake are therefore critical. The more the better, the quicker the better!
Viral protection of sows and their foetuses against PRR-virus, Circovirus and Parvovirus inside the uterus.
A single vaccination of gilts against PRRS is insufficient for optimal protection. When facing PRRS-outbreaks, a stable herd immunity can only be achieved by total herd vaccination. Well tolerated sow vaccines allow vaccination of gestating sows during every stage of pregnancy.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - An important anniversary in the history of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been marked at a special international pig veterinary satellite symposium held in Barcelona, Spain in June 2011 as part of the 6th International Symposium on Emerging and Re-emerging Pig Diseases.
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