What are the reasons for slow growth in piglets
In pig farming, the rearing of piglets is very critical. If piglets are not raised properly, the growth of the pig herd in the middle and later stages will be greatly affected. Many pig farmers also find during breeding that piglets grow very slowly, which is also very detrimental to the overall development of the pig herd. So what are the reasons for slow growth in piglets? Below, the editor will give you a brief introduction. Let's take a look together!
1. Improper weaning
Many pig farmers, when raising piglets to the weaning stage, choose the single-step weaning method, and the piglets are marketed immediately after weaning. This causes the piglets' living environment to change, as the environment centered on the sow and shared with littermates suddenly changes. The piglets cannot adapt in time, causing a decline in growth rate. Therefore, we must first do a good job in weaning work. One week before weaning, gradually reduce the piglets' nursing frequency until they are completely weaned, so as to ensure the piglets' growth.
2. Delayed supplementary feeding
During the nursing stage of piglets, we should also do a good job in supplementary feeding. If supplementary feeding is delayed, the piglets cannot adapt to feed after weaning and also lack mother's milk, causing a decline in growth rate and stopping reproduction. Therefore, when raising piglets, we should start supplementary feeding at one week of age, ensuring that when the sow's milk production declines, feed can promptly make up for the lack of mother's milk. The feed should first be easy to digest, sweet, and good in palatability, and it is best to gradually switch to normal feed.
3. Excessive environmental changes
Before weaning, piglets have always lived beside the sow. After weaning, they are basically kept one pig per pen, and piglets cannot adapt to this living environment in a short time. Especially in winter, when the temperature is too low, they do not eat or sleep well, and various diseases are very likely to occur, seriously affecting the piglets' weight gain. Therefore, after weaning the piglets, we should fully understand the piglets' previous rearing conditions, create a good growth environment for the piglets, and gradually change the piglets' rearing conditions.
4. Improper management
Improper management is also a main reason for slow growth in piglets. For example, mixed rearing causes pigs to eat, rest, and so on all in the same place, and if sanitation management is not done well, the pig house environment becomes too filthy. Especially in winter, it is very easy to cause pigs to catch cold and become sick, which has a very large impact on pig growth and weight gain. Therefore, we should pay attention to doing a good job in management, and raise pigs in separate pens according to eating speed, temperament, and so on. Separate the resting and eating places, do a good job in training, let the pigs develop habits such as defecating at fixed points and sleeping at fixed points, and ensure the sanitation of the pig house environment.
The above is a brief introduction to the causes of slow growth in piglets. In addition, improper feeding methods and incorrect castration timing can also affect the growth of piglets, so everyone should pay more attention.