Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3 Western Australia, Series 3
Volume 6
Number 5 September-October, 1957 Article 16
9-1957
Rearing orphan piglets Rearing orphan piglets
A. W. Williams
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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation
Williams, A. W. (1957) "Rearing orphan piglets," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3: Vol. 6: No. 5, Article 16.
Available at: https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture3/vol6/iss5/16
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REARING ORPHAN PIGLETS
By A. W. WILLIAMS, B.V.Sc, Government Veterinary Surgeon
VtfTHEN a newly-farrowed sow succumbs
*» to accident or disease, or is unable to produce sufficient milk for the litter, the pig-raiser may be faced with the problem of hand-feeding t h e young pigs. If it is possible for the piglets to obtain colostrum (often known as "first milk" or "beast- ings") during their first two days of life, their chance of survival will be increased and they may be reared successfully on cow's milk.
If two or more sows farrow at approxi- mately the same time, t h e orphan piglets may be placed with a foster-mother for two days to ensure t h a t they receive colostrum.
Where this is not possible, a substitute for colostrum may be prepared by whisk- ing a raw egg into each quart of cow's milk (whole). This mixture should be fed for at least a week.
FEEDING
Scrupulous cleanliness should be ob- served in feeding baby pigs. The utensils should be scalded thoroughly before and after use a n d for this reason only sound enamel, glass, or glazed earthenware dishes should be used.
The milk should be fed a t body t e m - perature and should n o t be diluted. If shallow dishes are used, t h e pigs soon learn to drink if their noses are pushed gently into t h e milk. Apropos of this, it will be found t h a t " u p - e n d i n g " the young pigs and dipping their noses into t h e milk is a surprisingly efficient method of teaching t h e m to drink.
"Little and often" is t h e best motto for feeding. Overfeeding especially during the first week of life leads to digestive troubles, and t h e recommended routine is to give five or six small feeds daily for
the first fortnight after which the fre- quency can be reduced to three feeds a day.
Vitamin supplements such as Vetemul, and antibiotics such as Terramycin should be added to the milk in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions. The antibiotic supplements are particularly desirable, not only to assist in growth development but to combat infections such as virus pneumonia.
Some farmers add sugar a t t h e r a t e of two tablespoonfuls to each quart of milk, This may be helpful in preventing t h e so- called "baby pig disease" which is con- sidered to be due to a drop in blood sugar levels. Any changes in t h e composition of the food should be made very gradually.
WARMTH IS ESSENTIAL Baby pigs should be kept warm, p r e - ferably in a box with ample dry bedding.
Draughts and chills must be avoided a n d some form of artificial heating is advisable if the night temperatures are liable to drop sharply.
A disused poultry hover, or a suitably- protected hot-water bottle or hot brick will help to maintain night temperatures at a safe level.
MILK SUBSTITUTE
Where adequate supplies of cow's milk are not available, dried buttermilk m a y be substituted. One pound mixed with a gallon of water will give a fluid which can be used to replace whole milk.
Some form of solid feeding should com- mence when the piglets are about two weeks old.
A dry mash containing four p a r t s of cracked grain and one p a r t m e a t m e a l should be made available in a separate trough from t h e milk. The pigs should 597
Journal of agriculture Vol. 6 1957
also have access to a trough of clean water. Green grazing is very desirable at all times.
The cracked grain should be increased at the rate of i lb. per week per pig so that at weaning age (8 weeks) the pigs should be receiving l i lb. grain per day.
The milk supply is gradually decreased after three weeks so that after weaning
the pigs can start straight on to dry mash and water. With the decrease in milk the vitamin and antibiotic supplements can be added to the mash.
It may be advisable to incorporate a mineral mixture into the mash after the piglets have been consuming it for some days. A suitable mixture would be four parts limestone to one part salt. About 1 oz. should be available for each pig.
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Journal of agriculture Vol. 6 1957
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