What are the risks for STILLBORN MORTALITY and how can we target them?
RISK
Prolonged farrowing duration
 TARGET
 Piglets born later in the birth order (9th+), with a longer
interval between births (23mins+) can suffer from oxygen
deprivation, which can result in stillbirth.
 If the litter size is large these risk factors are further
increased.
 Prolonged farrowing duration results from the sow being
stressed, increasing the likelihood of stillborns. This stress
is more common in restrictive farrowing environments with
no substrate, where sows do not have the opportunity to
perform nest-building activities before giving birth.
 High environmental temperatures can cause heat stress
which can also prolong farrowing duration.
Low birth weight, body mass index (BMI) and ponderal
index (PI)
 Stillborns were disproportionately long and thin (low BMI
and PI) and had low birth weight (under 1.3Kg). This could
indicate growth retardation during gestation.
 There is an increased risk of this if the litter size is large, if
the placenta is poor and if there is greater within litter
variability in piglet shape and size.
Poor placental environment
Variation in placenta occurs both between litters and within
litters. A small, thin and inefficient placenta (see picture
below) results in low levels of glucose and fructose being
supplied to the foetus, decreasing growth rates, having
implications for birth weight, body shape and the risk of
stillbirth. As with other risk factors, large litter size negatively
influences this trait.
Two different placentas from
the same litter. The piglet from
the placenta on the left
experienced a poorer
gestational environment than
its sibling who experienced
the placenta on the right.
 Older sows
Later parity sows have a greater risk of more stillborns. This
is most likely a result of physiological changes in the uterus,
changes in efficiency of parturition and higher fatness than
younger animals.
Improve farrowing progression

 Promote natural behaviour:
Loose housing during nesting and provision of long-
stemmed straw reduces stress levels by allowing the
sow performance of natural nest-building behaviour.
 Decrease heat stress:
Adult pigs will suffer heat stress above 22°C, pregnant
sows are even more susceptible to heat stress and it is
recommended that the farrowing house temperature be
no higher than 20°C. Outdoor producers can suffer
increased stillbirths in the summer months. Improving
ventilation in farrowing huts, using reflective materials
on huts and providing wallows/showers are ways of
reducing heat stress.
Improve gestational environment
Optimum nutrition for the sow during gestation is an
important management factor. It can influence the risk
factors for the growth and development of piglets in utero.
Long-term actions - Genetic selection strategies
Select for optimum weight, shape, reduced within litter
variation and increased placental efficiency. Researchers
at SAC and other institutes have identified that optimum
birth weight is 1.6Kg and reducing the number of “giants”
and “runts” in a litter is an important goal. More work is
needed to look at breeding for optimum shape as well as
weight.
 Sow replacement strategy and high herd health
Manage your breeding herd well, maintain high health and
welfare and have a pool of replacement gilts ready to
replace older stock (e.g. above 6th parity).
 What are the main risk factors of LIVE-BORN MORTALITY and how do we target them?
RISKS
Low birth weight  TARGETS
 Low birth weight piglets (under 1.3Kg) find it harder to
compete at the udder (particularly if there is greater
weight variability and a large litter).
 There is a relationship between birth weight and body
temperature, with low birth weight piglets finding it harder
to thermoregulate.
Poor thermoregulation
 The newborn piglet is very vulnerable to hypothermia.
Piglets that died had low birth, 2h and 24h rectal
temperatures (37.1ºC, 37.5ºC, 37.6ºC respectively).
Breeding for a leaner meat has resulted in a piglet with
reduced physiological maturity, increasing this
vulnerability at birth.
Slow first time behaviours
 Piglets that are slow to get to the udder (+25mins), find a
functional teat (+38mins) and suckle colostrum (+50mins)
are more likely to die than those performing these
behaviours quickly.
Poor maternal behaviours
 Piglets that died had mothers that displayed poor
maternal behaviours, with unsupported lying behaviour,
careless posture changes and ultimately more crushing
behaviours.
 Physical trauma can also result from mothers showing
savaging behaviour.
 This mis-mothering is often seen in gilts and our research
suggests it is more common when they are housed in
farrowing crates.
Improve piglet birth weight 
 Optimum nutrition during gestation will aid foetal growth
and development.
 In addition maintaining high feed intake for the sow
during lactation can influence the immediate litter’s
growth as well as effecting future litters.
Improve microclimate for the piglet
 Piglets in outdoor environments maintained higher
rectal temperatures than those born into farrowing
crates.
 Deep straw bedding provided in outdoor huts provides a
suitable microclimate for the piglets without causing the
sow undue heat stress.
 Straw cuts down radiant heat loss, which is responsible
for approximately 78% of heat loss.
 Providing substrate for nesting and farrowing will
improve maternal behaviour and help the piglets
thermoregulate.
 If this is not possible in the current system, a local heat
source will assist the piglets without undue heat stress
for the sow.
Improve first time behaviours
 Quick and prolonged suckling of colostrum aids energy
needs, transfers maternal anti-bodies and preserves
homeothermy.
 First time behaviours are related to piglet
thermoregulation and maternal behaviour. So by
improving the microclimate you will assist the piglet with
performing these behaviours.
Improving maternal behaviour
 Maternal behaviour is an important trait particularly
under outdoor conditions.
 Sow behaviour will be improved if she is provided with
the correct environment to perform natural behaviours.
 Ideally loose nesting and farrowing should be achieved,
which would reduce sow stress and promote positive
maternal behaviour.
 Nesting substrate should be provided in all farrowing
environments.
 An active and “satisfying” nesting phase should result in
a quiet and inactive farrowing phase allowing piglets
safe udder access.