Objectives:
| Length of the period → | 28 days until weaning |
|---|---|
| BW at birth & weaning | 1.3kg & 9kg |
| Heat regulation | <2% body fat, high energy demand. Heat source needed (larger |
| litter, smaller piglet, larger body surface, larger heat loss, less | |
| colostrum available, problems in thermoregulation) | |
| Colostrum | Higher: Vitamin A, D, E, C, B, Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, I, Protein |
| Lower: lactose, fat | |
| Iron (fe) supplementation | Piglet is born with limited supplies of iron. Low iron in sow milk |
| Iron supplementation: Injection (150-200mg iron dextran from 3- | |
| 5 days of age → risk of iron toxicity!) or given orally | |
| Aim and onset of use of solid feed | Introduction of solid feed decreases lactic acid production and |
| stimulates HCl secretion | |
| Pre-starter from day 11 | |
| Protein content and amount of the solid feed | CP = 21%, DE = 14MJ/kg |
| 1 kg pre-starter/piglet till the weaning | |
| Feed supplements | Lys, Met, Cys |
A piglet is “incubated” in its mothers womb for 114days and is born at around 1.3kg. At birth it should have colostrum as soon as possible in order to absorb as much of its mothers immuoglobulins as it can (possible for 24-36h). The colostrum is the first litres of milk coming out of the sow after birth. Compared to milk it is rich in Ig, higher protein, vitamins and fat levels but lower in lactose.
Since piglets have very bad iron storage capabilites and their mothers milk is very low in it and their enviromet does generally not provide any iron this must be supplemented by injection of 150-200mg into the neck. It may also be given PO but its more work.
Since we are injecting we run the risk of overdosing iron → Toxicosis….
Signs of toxicosis can be → Death, stiffness, edema at injection site, lameners
A piglet will double its BW weekly until 3 weeks old.
The piglet will feed on its mothers milk until day 10, Then its introduced to PRE-STARTER + milk ad libitum.
After approximatley 28 days weaning is done → piglet is on soild food only (STARTER). The piglet will get around 4% of its BW in meals until 70 days old. (approx weight 20-25kg)
And at day 90 a decision of breeding or fattening is made. (approx 30-35kg)
PATHWAY OF FATTENING: