With the continuous transformation and upgrading of pig breeding to the intensive and large-scale direction, pig breeding has become an important pillar industry in the development of China's animal husbandry. In the large-scale pig breeding, piglets are the most important group in the batch production. At the International Pig Congress, experts shared the early weaning technology of piglets and the feeding management of piglets after weaning, which is not only conducive to promoting the stable development of pig farming, but also can increase the economic benefits of farms.

1 Physiological characteristics of Suckling piglets

1.1 Strong metabolism

Suckling piglets grow faster within 30 days after birth, and the body metabolism of substances is also the most vigorous. At this stage, the demand for nutrients and quality requirements of piglets are relatively high, in addition to eating breast milk as early as possible, it should also provide its high-quality full price diet.

1.2 Poor body temperature regulation

Newborn piglets have less fat storage on the body surface and fast heat dissipation, and the central system regulating body temperature is not fully developed, so it is extremely sensitive to changes in temperature, and the body surface temperature changes with the rise and fall of external temperature.

1.3 Incomplete digestive function

The digestive tract of Suckling piglets is underdeveloped, the gastrointestinal tract volume is small and the contents are emptied quickly, and the method of "less feeding and more frequently adding" should be followed in feeding to adapt to its characteristics of "easy satiation and easy hunger".

1.4 Poor disease resistance

Newborn piglets can obtain antibodies from the mother only if they eat colostrum in time, so as to gradually transition to their own antibody production and obtain immunity.

2. Early weaning technology of Suckling piglets

In production breeding, the natural weaning time of pigs is 8 to 12 weeks of age, at which time the sow's mammary glands no longer produce milk. In traditional breeding, 35-40 days of weaning is mostly used, and at this stage, in intensive and large-scale breeding, weaning is generally carried out within 21-28 days.

2.1 Control feed feeding

The survey found that large-scale farms are generally weaned at 24 days or 25 days of age. When the farm determines the weaning time, the feed intake of sows should be controlled 1 week in advance; 3 days before weaning, the feeding amount of the sow should be reduced to about 60% of the original, and the milk secretion of the sow should be reduced by reducing the feed intake of the sow. When the milk yield of the sow is reduced, the feed amount of the piglets can be gradually increased, so that the digestive system can gradually adapt to the change of diet and prevent the occurrence of diseases such as diarrhea.

2.2 Good environmental control

After weaning, piglets are transferred to a nursery for breeding. At this time, the environmental control work should be done in advance, including: (1) thorough cleaning and disinfection; (2) The sterilized conservation enclosure should be fully ventilated; (3) Control the temperature and humidity of the nursery, the temperature is 22 ℃, and the humidity is 65%; (4) Ensure that each pig has an area of 0.5 to 0.8 m2.

2.3 Weaning method

One weaning method: In breeding and production, it is generally not recommended to use one weaning method, which is easy to cause mastitis in sows, and the piglets are easy to produce stress reactions, reducing the survival rate of piglets.

Gradual weaning method: 5 to 7 days before weaning, reduce the number of Suckling per piglet until complete weaning.

3 Feeding and management techniques of piglets after early weaning

3.1 Strengthen the nutritional supply of early weaned piglets

After early weaning of piglets, the body's bone and muscle growth rate is fast, and the demand for nutrients is also increasing. In terms of energy, when the weight of weaned piglets reaches 10 ~ 20 kg, it is necessary to ensure that the digestive energy of each piglet is not less than 13.85 MJ per day; In terms of minerals, it is mainly to ensure that the ratio of calcium and phosphorus in the feed of weaned piglets is appropriate to meet the needs of bone growth; In terms of vitamins, pay particular attention to the supply of vitamins A, D and E.

3.2 Strengthen the daily management of early weaned piglets

Feeding technology: The feeding of early weaned piglets should follow the principle of "less feeding, more frequent feeding, regular quantification".

(1) Reasonable grouping. After early weaning of piglets, sows and piglets should be raised in isolation in time.

(2) Provide a comfortable growth environment. The first is to regulate the appropriate temperature and humidity, light and ventilation in the pig house; The second is to clean up the manure and other breeding waste in time; The third is to carry out regular cleaning and disinfection of the enclosure.

4 Summary

To sum up, early weaning of piglets in large-scale breeding is a highly technical work, which needs to find out the physiological characteristics of Suckling piglets, select appropriate weaning time and methods, prevent post-weaning stress response, and take comprehensive prevention and control measures. Only in this way can we ensure the high survival rate of Suckling piglets after early weaning to ensure the stable production of pig farms.

If you would like to learn more about the pig industry, please visit the Leman China Swine Conference website for more information.

Source: PIGS TODAY

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