Over the last year or so , one of the big issues we ’ve fight with on my farm is small pig litter sizes .
This is a comparatively new problem . We went from many years where litters averaged 10 piglets or more ( ordinarily more ) , and then all of a sudden , we were down to 7 and then just 5 piglets being born at once .
Small litters in pigs are debatable for several reasons . For us , the heavy offspring is that we raise pigs for meat to trade to other customer , as our farm is also a business organization .
It ’s also crucial to observe that lowly litter are just as stressful and tax to a sow ’s scheme as big one , meaning there ’s no welfare at all to having fewer piglets .
We were able to get to the heart of our problem – and that ’s why I want to share this information with you today . Hopefully , small litters in bull is something you ’ll never have to divvy up with – but if you do , this clause will walk you through the outcome to help you troubleshoot .
What is the Average Pig Litter Size?
The medium bedding material of slovenly person is around 7 - 8 piglet . It ’s not rare for a sow to have up to 14 pigs per litter , however .
Pigs are quite prolific . A exclusive sow can have 2 litters of pig per year ( though this is n’t always recommend as pregnancy can be quite taxing on her organization ) .
It ’s rude and all normal for bull bedding material size to fluctuate . Just because a sow had 10 piglets 1 year does n’t mean she ’ll have 10 the next .
If litters are small for several years in a words , there ’s a good luck that something is pass on . This is especially dead on target when it comes to multiply older pig ( sows ) versus younger , first - time mothers ( gilts ) .
Also , if your slovenly person has fewer than 4 pigs per litter that ’s a major violent flag irrespective of your pig ’s age or any other variables . It require at least 4 foetus to maintain a maternity , so fewer than that number of shoat born indicates that fetuses give way in utero after they were implant .
What Determines the Number of Piglets Per Litter?
There are a few factors that go into how many piglets will be born in each bedding material .
1. Age of the Pig
Litter size is almost always the little in the first bedding material , with the largest routine of piglets born in the third and fifth years . This stay on unceasing and then starts to refuse as the squealer get older .
2. Genetics and Breed
The genetic science of animals play a huge function in how many shote are born . If a gilding ’s female parent was a prolific breeder with bombastic bedding , there is a stronger chance ( though not definite ) that the gilding will have large bedding material , too .
For the most part , purebred animals of some breeds have smaller litters than those of commercial-grade breeds .
Certain grunter breeds have been selected for gene relate to bedding size . Chinese pig genetic science be given to be the most prolific .
Of course , you could always choose within your ruck for larger bedding sizes .
3. Diet
nutriment is one of the most important factors to conceive when it comes to small bedding material sizes . If pig bed are underfed or of a short organic structure condition score ( too slight or too heavy ) , it can reduce how many eggs are grow and therefore , how many piglets are contain .
Feeding a eminent - quality diet at all times , but specifically within 10 days of breeding can maximize the ovulation rate and litter size . deficiency in vitamins A , tocopherol , and vitamin H are the most close relate to small litter sizes .
That tell , overfeeding gilts within the first 3 days of fostering can reduce the rate of embryo endurance , so it is a delicate balance that you will need to strike .
4. Health
Of course , the overall health of a pig influence litter size of it , too . Pigs that are in respectable soundbox shape and are n’t suffering from leech or any diseases are more probable to grow large litters .
What Can Cause a Too-Small Litter?
There are a few factors to rule out when you are trying to increase the number of fuzz per litter . Here are some thing you could deal when you ’re trying to figure out why your litters are too pocket-size .
1. Genetics
I already mentioned genetic science but it ’s deserving mentioning again . If you’re able to , select gilding based on ovulation rates ( which can be tough to calculate , but potential ) as well as their mother ’s history .
Maintaining a farrowing line that is more fertile and fertile can facilitate address this proceeds in your herd . While it can be unmanageable , sows that produce small litters require to be cull .
2. Worms
Get your pigs on a skillful deworming regime . large sponger load often causefertility issue in pigsand can direct to other lingering procreative issues as well .
3. Diseases
There are all kinds of procreative diseases that can make modest litters in pigs . The most coarse includeparvovirusorPRRS .
Both can hybridize the placenta and infect the litter , causing piglets to die in utero or immediately upon birth . You might mistrust these disease if your piglets are born mummify or if litters are pocket-size in worldwide .
Fortunately , most reproductive disease can be forbid with vaccinations .
4. Low Environmental Temperatures
Low tripping stipulation and irregular temperature have often been linked to little litter , too . If you may , attempt to breed your fauna when the conditions is not too hot or too cold .
in high spirits ambient temperature have been link to reduced wild boar prolificacy and smaller litter sizes .
5. Poor Mating
When mating your sows and gilts , check that you do it in the middle of standing estrus ( about 20 hours from the start ) and duplicate after 24 hours .
If you ’re breeding a Sus scrofa and a sow , make trusted you are culling sows who bring forth little bedding . The same rifle for any Sus scrofa if you’re able to identify them as the trouble ( it usually has to do with poor ejaculate quality ) .
When relying onartificial insemination , mark the semen as well as the proficiency . Shipping event can sometimes be to fault . The seminal fluid tone as well as the timing of insemination both need to be perfectly in line to produce adequately - sized litters .
Young boars can be used for up to 4 sequent services per workweek , while fledged I can be used for 6 religious service per calendar week . ensure you ’re considering your stocking densities and do n’t overuse your boars .
A Few More Tips to Help Increase Pig Litter Size
Here are a few more tip to consider as you endeavor to up your bedding size .
1. Check the Feed
First and foremost , consider what you ’re feed your animals . When we got down to the nitty - gritty of why our sows were n’t having enough piglets , we were able to fancy out that the issuance was a vitamin deficiency in feed .
We switched to another feed with better vitamin and mineral ratio , and the problems went away . Always attend at the feed before you attempt to switch up anything else in your sow direction program .
2. Prevent Diseases
Again , do everything in your powerfulness to keep your grunter healthy . Keep the caparison areas clean and make certain your sows and boars are both on a solid regimen when it comes to vaccination and deworming .
Cull animals who continuously brook from these diseases despite proper management .
3. Rethink Farrowing Systems and Housing
If you ’re trapping pigs together in group housing system , you may find a reduction in litter sizing . More than 20 animals living together , for whatever reason , is correlated to little litters .
Also , do n’t move your sows within the first 28 days of divine service . This can lead to tension that causes abortion .
You may have to consider how often you ’re attempt to breed your Sus scrofa as well . Although the average lactation length ( 18 - 28 days ) does n’t usually touch bedding size , a sow thatweans her pigletstoo early or too late might not be quite as fecund during the next gestation cycle .
at last , when yoursow farrows , consider whether there are ways to bring down shoat mortality rate . Although this post focus mostly on litter sizes that were modest from the get - go , some multitude consider modest litter size as it link up specifically to piglet dying mighty after they are born .
Often , this has to do with a sow rolling on her piggy . Using a farrowing crate or another farrow direction system can facilitate , but these tend to behighly controversial . Do what ’s dear for your farm but believe all the alternatives .
Improve Pig Litter Size
Improving the size of it of your slob litters is n’t always well-to-do , but it can be done . However , it ’s of import to have naturalistic expected value .
Some Fannie Merritt Farmer assume that because it istechnicallypossible for a pig to have 2 dozen or more piglets – the great litter ever was 27 – that does n’t mean it ’s common . It ’s also not necessarily ideal . Often , in bombastic litters like this , many of the piggy are n’t large enough or sizable enough to live on .
Keep your expectations under ascendancy and follow the tips above to optimise the health of your pigs !
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