Several factors are related to piglet survival immediately post-farrowing. However, colostral management has the biggest influence on whether or not the piglets will survive during the first few hours to days or even through the first few months. Colostrum, the first milk produced by the sow, is full of invaluable antibody proteins called immunoglobulins that are paramount to the function and strength of the piglet’s immune system. A full complement of immunoglobulins absorbed through the gut in the first 24 hours is called Passive Transfer: named for the sow’s antibody immunity is slickly transferred right into the baby pig by simply nursing. If the piglets receive adequate colostrum, their chances of survival are improved considerably. Without these immunoglobulins the piglets surrender to Failure of Passive Transfer and have little chance of survival, regardless of the time and talent invested in trying to save them. From experience, it is reasonable to expect less than 25% survival rate of piglets that have not received adequate colostrum and sadly succumb to the consequences of Failure of Passive Transfer. Conversely, over 75% of the piglets that have had adequate colostrum intake are likely to survive hand rearing.
Inadequate intake of colostrum comes from many sets of circumstances that can result in Failure of Passive Transfer.
- Any piglet that fails to jump up and nurse aggressively.
- An unfocused piglet that looks fairly aggressive, but frequently wanders around a bit and arrives late to the table.
- A piglet that has desire, but gets pushed about by the larger piglets, repeatedly getting rolled off of a teat and losing the latch he worked so hard to obtain.
- An aggressive piglet that doesn’t choose wisely and keeps returning to an inadequate teat.
Recognizing an at-risk pig early can increase his survival rate. If a piglet isn’t consuming enough colostrum, intervening early can avoid weak or dead pig disasters. Measures can be taken to get the at-risk piglet to ramp up his intake and achieve passive transfer well before the decision is made to supplement or pull the pig off of the sow and feed independently.
- Watch and listen for the sow to prompt the piglets to eat.
- Quickly place the piglet at a forward milk laden mamma/teat with good footing.
- Invigorate the pig to keep drinking if he starts to nod off to achieve a fuller stomach.
- Repeat often.
- Collect colostrum and supplement the piglet if needed.
Collecting colostrum from a sow can be a bit tricky. It is difficult to milk a sow, especially if she is not actively “letting her milk down.” Oxytocin is the hormone responsible for milk let-down and is naturally released during uterine contractions and mammary stimulation at the time of suckling. Normally, a sow will grunt to her pigs to wake them with the signal that the milk is about to flow. Organized chaos ensues as the piglets jockey for their preferred teat and quickly begin nursing. This process is short-lived with only a few minutes necessary for a healthy, aggressive piglet to obtain a full stomach. It is during this short window that any unused teats can be milked to deliver to an orphan. Obtaining one half of an ounce (15mL) is an accomplishment as it is a good place to start feeding a weak or slow piglet, while milking out a whole ounce (30mL) of colostrum is a great success. This process may have to be repeated until the piglet gains the strength to thrive on its own.
Oxytocin (by veterinary prescription) will also serve to induce milk let-down within a few minutes of giving an intramuscular injection. In docile or highly handled sows, it is also possible to stimulate milk let down naturally by rubbing the belly in long strokes just above the teat line to encourage the sow to lie down and call for her pigs. Giving the appropriate amount of colostrum is the beginning of the long process of feeding the piglets until weaning.
