Feeding and management of suckling piglets

   I. physiological characteristics of suckling piglets

After leaving the mother,    piglets changed suddenly in three aspects. ① piglets rely on maternal placental blood to supply oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide. After birth, they rely on their own respiratory system and blood circulation system to supply oxygen. ② piglets are in a sterile environment in the mother and are attacked by a variety of pathogenic microorganisms after birth. ③ piglets live in the maternal constant temperature environment before birth, but rely on the central nervous system to regulate the body after birth. Therefore, in the production practice, only by thoroughly understanding the physiological characteristics of calf piglets can we do a good job in piglet breeding.

   II. Key points of feeding and management of suckling piglets

   (1) eat good colostrum

Newborn piglets lack congenital immunity because the immune antibody is a macromolecular globulin substance, which can not be directly transported to the fetus through maternal blood vessels, because the blood vessels of sows and fetal umbilical vessels are separated by 6-7 layers of tissue, so newborn piglets have no innate immunity. After eating colostrum, piglets can obtain immune antibodies from colostrum.

   (2) fixed nipples so that every piglet can eat good milk

The nipples of piglets should be artificially fixed after birth. It is reported that artificial nipple fixation can increase the survival rate of piglets by 10%, especially for those who have a large number of piglets. Fixed nipples generally fix the birth weight on the first pair of nipples, the smaller ones on the second pair of nipples in front, and the heavy piglets on the back nipples. After several times of auxiliary fixation, the piglets can form a habit and establish the order of breast feeding.

   (3) thermoregulation of newborn piglets

The thermoregulatory function of newborn piglets is not perfect, and their stress ability to cold is poor. In order to maintain a constant body temperature, animals need to undergo a series of stress reactions under the regulation of the nervous system in order to complete their adaptation process. Although the functions of the hypothalamus, anterior hypophysis and adrenal cortex, which control the adaptation to the external environment, are quite perfect, the cerebral cortex is underdeveloped. The reverse ability of pituitary and hypothalamus is also poor, and the conduction structure and function of thalamus is low, which can not regulate body temperature freely. Especially within 3-4 days after birth, the piglets themselves cannot change their body temperature with the change of ambient temperature. therefore, piglets often die because of cold and damp, so there is a saying that "piglets are afraid of cold". Temperature is very important to piglets.

   (4) cleanliness and hygiene in order to reduce the occurrence of diseases, it is very important to keep the delivery room dry and clean. The feeding density of the delivery room is high, and fecal urine is often accumulated under the delivery bed, which is very easy to produce harmful gases such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, which will affect the health of piglets if not eliminated in time.

   generally speaking, the air in the delivery room should not irritate people's nose. In the removal of harmful gases at the same time, we should pay more attention to the wind, thieves attack piglets, especially in winter at the door of the birth bed can not be ignored. Sows in the delivery room try to remove faeces immediately and do not stay on the birth bed, so that people are not in the feces. After the feces are removed, dry and disinfect them with a mop.

   (5) feeding experience of piglets in delivery room

Most diseases of piglets in the delivery room are caused by poor conditions or lack of the most basic conditions, especially in rural areas, because of saving investment, there is no necessary design of warmth, cooling and ventilation in the construction of pig farms. the result is continuous diarrhea of piglets, poor drug effect, high mortality, low weaning weight and stimulating many infectious diseases. Therefore, it is the wisest choice to improve conditions and prevent diseases.