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Bulletin No. 18 - Spring 2004
MiscelleanousProduction
CALDIER P
Management and hyperprolificacy hot topics at the pig day.
Pig Progress Vol. 20, Nº1, 2004, 14-16
On the occasion of the 2003 regional Pig Day that took place recently in Brittany (France), the results of the latest pig research have been presented. Hyperprolifilacy and maternal ability aroused particular interest. In the last decade in Brittany, the number of piglets born increased by 3.3 and 2.7 respectively in Large-White and French Landrace and so did the rate of stillborn piglets that now represents 10% of the litter. As a consequence, the number of functional teats and the daily average feed consumption of sows were added as new parameters in selection programs. Other parameters such as colostrum production and homogeneity of the litter were also discussed. A negative correlation between the minimum survival weight for piglets and the size of the litter was demonstrated together with the economical viability of keeping piglets of less than 1kg at birth until slaughter. Moreover, giving a mixture of water and early weaning feed to piglets for 5 days post-weaning was proposed as a way of improving the condition of early weaned piglets.
