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Risk Factors Pig Mortality
Risk Factors Pig Mortality
RISK
Prolonged farrowing duration
TARGET
Improve farrowing progression
Piglets born later in the birth order (9th+), with a longer Promote natural behaviour:
interval between births (23mins+) can suffer from oxygen Loose housing during nesting and provision of long-
deprivation, which can result in stillbirth. stemmed straw reduces stress levels by allowing the
If the litter size is large these risk factors are further sow performance of natural nest-building behaviour.
increased. Decrease heat stress:
Prolonged farrowing duration results from the sow being Adult pigs will suffer heat stress above 22°C, pregnant
stressed, increasing the likelihood of stillborns. This stress sows are even more susceptible to heat stress and it is
is more common in restrictive farrowing environments with recommended that the farrowing house temperature be
no substrate, where sows do not have the opportunity to no higher than 20°C. Outdoor producers can suffer
perform nest-building activities before giving birth. increased stillbirths in the summer months. Improving
High environmental temperatures can cause heat stress ventilation in farrowing huts, using reflective materials
which can also prolong farrowing duration. on huts and providing wallows/showers are ways of
reducing heat stress.
Low birth weight, body mass index (BMI) and ponderal Improve gestational environment
index (PI) Optimum nutrition for the sow during gestation is an
Stillborns were disproportionately long and thin (low BMI important management factor. It can influence the risk
and PI) and had low birth weight (under 1.3Kg). This could factors for the growth and development of piglets in utero.
indicate growth retardation during gestation.
There is an increased risk of this if the litter size is large, if Long-term actions - Genetic selection strategies
the placenta is poor and if there is greater within litter Select for optimum weight, shape, reduced within litter
variability in piglet shape and size. variation and increased placental efficiency. Researchers
at SAC and other institutes have identified that optimum
Poor placental environment birth weight is 1.6Kg and reducing the number of “giants”
Variation in placenta occurs both between litters and within and “runts” in a litter is an important goal. More work is
litters. A small, thin and inefficient placenta (see picture needed to look at breeding for optimum shape as well as
below) results in low levels of glucose and fructose being weight.
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.
RISKS
Low birth weight TARGETS
Improve piglet birth weight
Low birth weight piglets (under 1.3Kg) find it harder to Optimum nutrition during gestation will aid foetal growth
compete at the udder (particularly if there is greater and development.
weight variability and a large litter). In addition maintaining high feed intake for the sow
There is a relationship between birth weight and body during lactation can influence the immediate litter’s
temperature, with low birth weight piglets finding it harder growth as well as effecting future litters.
to thermoregulate.
Poor thermoregulation Improve microclimate for the piglet
The newborn piglet is very vulnerable to hypothermia. Piglets in outdoor environments maintained higher
Piglets that died had low birth, 2h and 24h rectal rectal temperatures than those born into farrowing
temperatures (37.1ºC, 37.5ºC, 37.6ºC respectively). crates.
Breeding for a leaner meat has resulted in a piglet with Deep straw bedding provided in outdoor huts provides a
reduced physiological maturity, increasing this suitable microclimate for the piglets without causing the
vulnerability at birth. 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.