A solution for high production numbers in farrowing units?

In todays’ pig husbandry, farmers strive for large litters and high production numbers. However, it is often forgotten that the average birth weight decreases when litters are larger. This can affect growth, mortality rate, feed conversion ratio… Because sows sometimes have more piglets than they can nurse, piglets can be raised in piglet nurseries or by ‘foster sows’. The objective of the present study was therefore to compare production results (growth and mortality rate) of piglets with the mother sow, piglets raised by a foster sow and piglets in a rescue deck. Results indicate that all three groups of piglets have similar average daily gain (ADG) during the first two weeks of life. However, during the third and fourth week piglets in rescue decks have a higher ADG than the other groups. This is probably due to the fact that piglets in rescue decks had ad libitum access to milk, while the other piglets were limited by the milk producing capacity of the (mother or foster) sow. After weaning, when all piglets have ad libitum access to feed, the difference in ADG disappears again. There were no differences in mortality rate. As a conclusion, rescue decks can give an advantage in ADG to piglets, but the advantage is temporary and disappears after weaning.status: publishe