How to improve the survival rate of piglets in low temperature, rain and snow freezing climate

(1) Pay attention to heat preservation. Piglets are much more sensitive to low temperature than big pigs. The optimum environmental temperature for piglets is 25 ~ 30℃, which requires a little higher temperature for newborn piglets. When the temperature is too low, the growth of piglets is slow, the effective utilization rate of feed is reduced, fat is lost, diseases are easy to occur, and the mortality rate is increased. According to statistics, 70% of piglet deaths within a week are caused by cold. Therefore, when the low temperature, rain, snow and freezing climate comes, it is necessary to build a small insulation room for piglets. The insulation room can be hung with infrared light bulbs for heating (100 ~ 500 watts). Hang a temperature and humidity sensor 0.5 meters away from the bottom in the middle of the insulation room to accurately grasp the temperature and humidity. Put some short straw mats on the indoor floor, and pay attention to changing them frequently. At present, some commercial heat preservation facilities have been able to provide a complete set of solutions, such as the improved piglet incubator developed by Chongqing Academy of Animal Husbandry, which takes into account the heat preservation and ventilation in the heat preservation room, and is very simple to operate and disassemble and very convenient to use. In addition, the pigsty should be kept warm to ensure that the temperature of piglets will not be too low during breastfeeding.

(2) avoid stress. Ensure that newborn piglets can eat colostrum and increase immunity. If the sow has insufficient nipples or breast milk, it should be fostered in time. Lactating piglets can delay weaning and feed them in time to ensure adequate intake.

(3) Strengthen nursing. When freezing weather comes, piglets prefer to huddle with sows to keep warm, especially in the first week after birth. In order to prevent piglets from being crushed and trampled to death, it is necessary to set up a pressure fence for sows and check them regularly to prevent starvation and freezing accidents (Figure 29).

Fig. 29 20 1 1 freezing rain at low temperature in Guizhou caused serious losses to pig farms.

(Source: Wang Jinyong)

In addition, attention should also be paid to iron and selenium supplementation for newborn piglets, routine immunization measures should be in place, and symptoms such as diarrhea should be treated in time.

(Wang Jinyong)