Proper Management in Swine Maternity Ensures Greater Piglet Survival and Productivity

The maternity phase is one of the most critical stages in pig farming, demanding close attention to both sows and newborn piglets. Proper management during this period is key to increasing productivity and ensuring higher survival rates among animals.

Essential Practices for Successful Maternity Management

Experts emphasize that reproductive performance and piglet welfare are directly linked to the adoption of good management and biosecurity practices:

• Cleaning and biosecurity: complete disinfection of facilities, application of the “all-in, all-out” system, and maintenance of optimal temperatures (21–23 °C for sows and 32–35 °C for piglets).
• Sow transfer: should occur 5 to 7 days before farrowing, allowing better adaptation and reducing stress.
• Farrowing assistance: continuous monitoring, ensuring a maximum interval of 20 minutes between births; the technical team must be prepared for quick interventions.
• Initial piglet care: immediate drying, umbilical cord disinfection, proper heat supply, and preventive measures against infections.
• Efficient colostrum intake: ingestion within the first hours of life can increase survival rates up to fivefold.
• Sow health: daily observation of appetite, control of body temperature (below 39.5 °C), and ensuring a minimum daily water intake of 10 L.
• Proper weaning: recommended from 21 days onward, respecting the minimum weight and maintaining thermal comfort for piglets in the nursery.

Direct Impacts on Productivity

Implementing these practices contributes to increased neonatal survival, improved sow performance, and higher system efficiency. Moreover, proper management reduces medication use and enhances the sustainability of the operation.

📘 Source: Revista Suinocultura, Issue SI325 – Report by Luis Henrique Gouvêa Saraiva, Agroceres PIC Technical Services.

#SwineMaternity #PigManagement #IndustrialPigFarming #Biosecurity #ColostrumManagement #ProperWeaning #SustainableProduction #AnimalEfficiency #AnimalWelfare