Farmer’s Weekly – 02 August 2019

COMMUNAL FARMING

BY SHANE BRODY

Shane Brody is involved in project
management as part of an outreach
programme aimed at transferring
skills to communal farmers in parts of
the former Ciskei and Transkei. Email
him at [email protected].
Subject line: Communal farming.

A sow should never be

left on her own to farrow

and suckle her piglets;

the farmer should be

present to ensure the

offspring survive and the

sow remains healthy.

Caring for the lactating

sow and young piglets

P

rior to farrowing, make sure that the

sow has enough shelter and warm

bedding in the form of a deep layer

of sawdust or hay. This should be replaced

at least once a week, as it becomes soiled

and can harbour bacteria. Also check

that the sow’s udder and teats are not

excessively inflamed (red) or very hard;

this could be a sign of an infection

that might require medication.

If farrowing takes place during winter,

create a creep-feed corner and suspend

an infrared bulb here 40cm to 50cm from

the floor. Fence off the corner with an

iron gate or wooden crate-type panel

with gaps just wide enough for the piglets

to enter and exit. Creep feed should be

supplied from about four weeks of age.

Vaccinate the sow against E. coli

about two weeks before it gives birth

(remember that a sow gestates for three

months, three weeks and three days).

During farrowing, help the sow if she

struggles by gently, but firmly, pulling piglets

that seem to be stuck in the birth canal.

After farrowing, clear any birth

membranes from the piglet’s face or mouth

and nose area, and massage its abdomen

and chest area if it is not breathing,

Piglets should be injected in the neck area

with the correct type of iron at the correct

dosage (enquire about these vaccinations

and medication at your local supply store).

Ideally, this should be done during the third

day of life and certainly before the sixth day.

GLUCOSE FOR ENERGY

You might need to help weak piglets in

getting to the sow’s teats, as they need

to consume colostrum (the first thick

milk the mother produces) within the

first four to six hours of life in order

to gain immunity from diseases.

To give a weak piglet extra energy,

mix a teaspoon of glucose in a cup

of lukewarm water and place six

to eight drops into its mouth.

You may need to foster some of the

piglets if the mother is struggling, but

first make certain they have consumed

enough colostrum on the first day of

life. Ask your local vet or farmer supply

store about milk replacer for pigs.

A lactating sow requires a balanced diet

in the form of pig meal. As she is feeding

a large litter, her daily feed ration may

need to be increased to 5kg or 6kg. But

only give her as much as she can eat

in a day; any feed left over could be an

indication that she is being overfed.

As with all pigs, a lactating sow needs

plenty of fresh water daily; she can drink

30ℓ/ day or more. I use water nipples

(available at farmer supply stores) linked

to a 5 000ℓ tank placed high enough to

create the pressure needed to make the

nipples effective. Water flows from a nipple

only when it is nudged by the pig’s nose.

I usually don’t wean piglets before

they are six to seven weeks old, but they

can be weaned as early as four weeks

of age if, say, the mother is struggling

and rapidly dropping in condition.

Start offering creep feed (pig growth meal)

in the creep-feed corner about 14 days

before weaning. Rather leave the weaned

piglets in the nursing pen where they were

born for about seven days after the mother

has been removed, as this is a familiar

environment and reduces weaning shock.

When you remove piglets from this

area to a weaner pen, try to class similar-

sized pigs with each other and isolate

very aggressive animals. In order for your

weaners to grow at an optimal (and therefore

cost-effective) rate, inspect for any signs

of illness such as diarrhoea. In addition,

keep the necessary medication on hand.

DEWORMING

I usually deworm pigs twice before

they reach slaughter weight, but

diarrhoea and pot bellies, along with

lean bodies, may be a sign that they

need to be wormed more often.

Pigs raised on a balanced growth

meal ration will be ready for slaughter

at six to seven months.

▪

FW

INSPECT THE PIGLETS

FOR ANY SIGNS

OF ILLNESS SUCH

AS DIARRHOEA

28 farmer’sweekly 2 AUGUST 2019