With continuous social development in recent years, people’s living standards have been further improved, and the market demand for meat products has risen correspondingly, which has boosted the development of China’s livestock breeding industry to a certain extent. For large-scale pig farms, piglets serve as a fundamental link in pig production. Therefore, during the management of large-scale breeding sites, scientific and targeted feeding and management technologies matching the physiological characteristics of piglets must be adopted to raise piglet survival rates and support their healthy growth.
In the operation of large-scale pig farms, piglet rearing constitutes a core segment for long-term sustainable development. Breeders are required to formulate targeted feeding protocols and technical systems based on the actual traits of piglets, draw on diverse experience and practices in piglet raising, and thereby lift the economic benefits of the farms. In actual production, many large-scale farms suffer slow growth or death of piglets due to improper management modes and unscientific feeding techniques, which severely undermines breeding profitability. Hence, great importance must be attached to piglet feeding and management on large-scale farms to boost piglet survival. This paper discusses and analyzes key technical points for scientific rearing and management of piglets in large-scale pig farms, bearing important practical value.
Analysis of Physiological Characteristics of Suckling Piglets
First, piglets possess underdeveloped digestive systems. Multiple physical functions of suckling piglets are immature, particularly their digestive organs, which are light in weight and limited in capacity. There is no hydrochloric acid in the stomach to facilitate digestion and absorption, coupled with low pepsin activity, resulting in weak digestive capacity. Piglets are susceptible to pathogenic bacterial invasion and subsequent diseases.
Second, suckling piglets have low immunity. Their immune systems are not fully developed, and antibodies for immune protection are mainly acquired from maternal colostrum. Endogenous antibodies cannot be fully synthesized and functional until one month after birth. Accordingly, piglets are highly vulnerable to diseases from day 3 to day 20 post-birth, calling for stricter and comprehensive care.
Third, piglets have poor thermoregulatory capacity. Suckling piglets grow rapidly with vigorous metabolism, yet their physical regulatory systems remain incomplete and their overall resistance weak. Newborn piglets feature underdeveloped cerebral cortices, poor body temperature regulation, and thin fat layers. Thermal insulation must be prioritized during lactation to avoid cold stress. Besides, newborn piglets lack sufficient internal energy reserves, so adequate feed supply is essential to improve survival rates.
Feeding and Management Techniques for Newborn Piglets on Large-Scale Farms
Ensure sufficient intake of colostrum
Adequate colostrum intake improves gastric adaptability of newborn piglets, accelerates digestion and absorption of nutrients from breast milk, prevents constipation and stunted growth, and elevates overall survival rates.
Prevent piglet-induced injuries
Mucus on newborn piglets shall be wiped off promptly. After weighing, ear tags are applied. To avoid teat biting, mastitis in sows and mutual fighting among piglets competing for milk, canine teeth and other incisors of piglets should be trimmed shortly after farrowing.
Manual teat fixation
Breeders shall assist piglets in fixing their suckling teat positions in the first few nursing sessions. Weaker piglets are allocated to teats with stronger milk secretion to ensure uniform milk intake and synchronized growth of the whole litter.
Scientific Rearing and Management Technologies for Piglets During Lactation on Large-Scale Farms
Supplement iron and selenium
Iron supplementation is administered on day 3 after birth, followed by a second iron injection 10 days later. The second selenium supplement is given post-weaning. High-concentration breast milk easily causes thirst in piglets, while thin milk leads to frequent hunger. Clean drinking water must be provided from day 3 to avoid reduced immunity and high mortality caused by pathogenic bacteria in contaminated water.
Early creep feed supplementation
Starter feed can be supplied to piglets at around 4 days old, with supplementary feeding every 10 days. This ensures steady weight gain, alleviates the negative impacts of weaning on piglets’ immune systems and physical functions.
Intensive supervision during lactation
Numerous factors may cause piglet deaths during suckling, including starvation from insufficient milk access and crushing by sows. Improper management and neglected operational details also lead to fatalities. Breeders must strengthen monitoring during farrowing, track piglet birth conditions and sow postpartum care, and reduce piglet mortality induced by human negligence.
Scientific Feeding and Management Technologies for Piglets During Weaning on Large-Scale Farms
Gradual environmental adaptation
Separation from sows often triggers anxiety and fear in piglets, drastically slowing growth. Breeders need to fully grasp the physiological and psychological needs of weaned piglets, provide an environment highly similar to their lactation housing, and adjust feeding protocols step by step after piglets fully adapt.
Optimize housing environment
The optimal ambient temperature for weaned piglets is 20°C, with relative humidity controlled at 70%. Regular disinfection and thorough cleaning of pig houses are required to prevent disease outbreaks. In addition, the housing must maintain fresh, clean air with timely ventilation to eliminate harmful gases and reduce respiratory disorders in piglets.
Conclusion
Scientific feeding and management of piglets is indispensable to pig production on large-scale farms. Breeders must attach high priority to daily management, perform duties rigorously and meticulously, boost physical fitness and development of piglets, and ultimately guarantee the economic returns of large-scale pig farms.