Cross fostering and nurse sows (II): How to do the movements?
We focus on moving surplus piglets, which forces us to use nurse sows. We explain two ways to do this in a very visual video.
articles about fostering
Cross fostering and nurse sows (I): How to handle hyperprolific sows
Here are three basic rules for deciding if and when to do cross fostering and use nurse sows.
Cross-fostering protocols, a complex issue to standardize
Cross-fostering is a common practice in farrowing units. However, the emergence of hyperprolific sows has caused us to rethink the issue.
Effect of rearing cross-fostered piglets in litters of differing size relative to sow functional teat number on preweaning growth and mortality
Increasing litter size after cross-fostering relative to the number of functional teats of the sow increased piglet preweaning mortality, and tended to decrease weaning weight.
Nurse sow strategies: Consequences for sow welfare
No difference was detected between nurse sows and non-nurse sows in body condition or severity of lesions.
Early life indicators predict mortality, illness, reduced welfare and carcass characteristics in finisher pigs
The objective of this study was to investigate associations between early life indicators, lactation management factors and subsequent mortality, health, welfare and carcass traits of offspring.
What is good for small piglets may not be so for the big ones
Practical implications of a study that analyzes the consequences of litter standardization by weight or number and the supply of creep feeding.
The effect of double nursing, an alternative nursing strategy for the hyper-prolific sow herd
In the double nursing strategy every week one or more sows nurse two litters simultaneously from birth to weaning.
Improving welfare and production in the peri-weaning period: Effects of co-mingling and intermittent suckling
Co-mingling of unfamiliar piglets before weaning did not improve performance. Co-mingling and intermittent suckling increased positive behaviour after weaning. Intermittent suckling likely advanced gastrointestinal changes in the peri-weaning period.
Foster sows, how to make them?
If we decide to use foster sows to wean the "extra" piglets farrowed by hyper-prolific sows, we must decide which system is best suited to our farm and our management conditions.
Relationships among pigs weaned, preweaning survival and weaning weight with the number of piglets after cross fostering
Although piglet birth weight is the most influential factor affecting piglet survival other behavioral factors such as vitality and vigor of piglets at birth contribute to the overall likelihood of the offspring surviving.
Marking foster sows on the back with the number of piglets to adopt
The trick consists in selecting the appropriate foster sows and marking them on the back with the maximum number of pigs that they can take care of.
Management of the weakest piglets
This trick explains how to obtain foster sows for the adoptions.
Nurse sows (II)
When using nurse sows (foster sows) whilst making some piglets "go forwards" before the expected time we end up weaning them one week before. This poses certain problems.