Agriculture Reference
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types of management process that involve using nurse sows; namely, one-step and two-
step. One-step management involves weaning piglets which are at least 21 d old from a
'chosen' nurse sow and then fostering on surplus piglets from newly farrowed sows when
the piglets are at least 12 h old. The nurse sow then rears this second litter to at least 21 d
of age, when they are weaned, and she returns to a dry sow facility for service. Two-step
management, sometimes called 'cascade fostering' involves the use of two lactating sows.
An intermediate sow (interim sow) is identified and her litter is weaned at 28 d of age (or
at least 21 d old) and then a second-step nurse sow is identified whose piglets are 4-7 d
old. These piglets are all fostered onto the intermediate sow. The second-step sow is then
given surplus, large, newly farrowed piglets (for full details see Baxter et al., 2013). Such
strategies require diligent stockpersonship and there are risks to the health and welfare
of both piglets and sows (Baxter et al. , 2013), particularly if performed poorly.
Artificial rearing systems are now widely used in the Netherlands, the USA and
increasingly in Germany, to deal with surplus piglets. For example, the Rescue Deck
system is a specially designed unit that is recommended to sit above the farrowing crates
and houses either surplus or low viability piglets. The decks are fully slatted, heated and lit
and have artificial milk, water and, when piglets are older, a creep feeding system. Piglets
are typically housed there from 3-20 d old and often this system does indeed 'rescue'
piglets that would otherwise die (Van Dijk, 2012). However, scientific evidence regarding
the advantages and disadvantages of artificial rearing systems in terms of welfare and the
long-term survival prospects of 'rescued' piglets is sparse and, if such practices are to be
adopted, they require further investigation.
Although the management interventions discussed are designed to promote piglet
survival, clearly they can also have negative implications for piglet (and sow) welfare,
particularly when they are poorly managed.
11.4
Conclusions
Piglet mortality is a problem with complex aetiology, predisposed by the natural biology
of the species and exacerbated by economic selection pressures within the farming
industry. Risk factors associated with animal predisposition, environmental provision
and human action interact to determine the farrowing and early life outcomes. Whilst
historic focus has been placed on control of the physical environment at farrowing as a
means of improving survival, the more recent challenges introduced by the development
of hyper-prolific sow lines require additional approaches. The events which predispose
mortality are now occurring long before the time of farrowing and need to be addressed
by the increased incorporation of genetic traits favouring survival in breeding goals,
nutritional interventions which enhance fetal development and neonatal vigour, and
skilled stockperson assistance of low vitality and supernumerary piglets at the time of
birth and colostrum intake.
With an increasing societal focus on the ethical and welfare issues in pig production, but no
alleviation of the financial pressures on pig farmers to remain competitive, the requirement
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