If the sows are too fat, then they are less active and more likely to drop to the ground suddenly, perhaps with a piglet underneath. The worst affected litters can be with fat sows in older farrowing pens. However, most overlay cases are due to various factors within the farrowing areas. These sows should be identified by farm records and culled. There are undoubtedly some sows that are clumsy and liable to wander about and flop down, without care for the piglets. In farms that use open farrowing areas, without any form of sow restraint device, then piglet deaths due to overlay can be much higher. However, even when farrowing cradles are used, it can still be a major problem. The widespread usage of crates or cradle devices that restrain the sow during farrowing and lactation, which were first adopted in the 1960s, lead to a marked reduction in this form of piglet death. Most affected piglets are only one to three days of age. Occasionally, a live piglet is discovered squealing loudly underneath a sow. Close inspection will indicate that piglets become crushed and killed underneath the abdomen or legs of the sows. The farmer may notice pre-weaning mortality of young piglets consistently above 15% of some litters. This is a common problem affecting modern lines of pig breeds on many farms. The other main problems are chilling, failure of colostrum intake, diarrhoea and birth defects. The death of these piglets is usually due to suffocation from being overlain by the sow. The largest category of neonatal piglet deaths in normal farm situations is often that of a piglet in good body condition that is found dead in the first few days of its life. Stillborn piglets are recognised by the presence of dried mucus over the body and soft un-worn hooves. So staff may mis-classify these dead piglet cases as pre-parturition stillborn deaths, rather than the correct diagnosis of neonatal piglet death. It is therefore possible that young piglets were born alive and healthy, but have been killed or crushed by the sow, at some time after their birth. Most sows give birth at night and if staff activity is low, then many litters may only be examined several hours after the birth has finished. When looking at piglet data, it is important to properly record the status of piglets at birth. All farms should develop and monitor targets for reduction of piglet deaths prior to weaning, aiming for a target of less than 10% in each litter. Most farms routinely collect data on the numbers of piglets born alive and dead, as this will have a major impact on farm profitability and breeding programmes. This article helps to identify the five most common health problems in piglets.Ī newborn litter of piglets is often the focus of interest in normal farrowings. There is no better way to emphasise the importance of keeping piglets healthy from day one. They say a good start is half the battle.