Management of Newly Born Piglets

After new-born piglets are born, soak the navel of each piglet in an iodine solution to prevent inflammation (omalitis). The piglets should also be aided by putting them onto the udder of their mother. They need to suck from the colostrum (first milk) which helps in fighting impending diseases.

Young piglets tend to be anaemic (have a shortage of iron in their blood) because there is less iron in the sow’s milk, and wouldn’t meet the iron needs of the piglets. Piglets suffering from anaemia become pale and their growth rate drops.

How to Prevent Anaemia in a Piggery

1.    You can prevent anaemia by putting clean compost or iron-rich soil (red, yellow or brown soil) at the corner of the pen every day. When the piglets eat some of the soil, they will be able to supplement the iron deficient in their mother’s milk.

2.    You can also give the piglets iron injection (Iron D) at the age of 1 to 3 days.

Some important operations carried out on piglets are:

1.    Teeth trimming

2.    Tail docking

3.    Castration

4.    Weaning

This is where we will be ending our discussion for today.Remember to share your comments views and opinions.