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Sow comfort is directly correlated with pre-weaning mortality, says
Dr. William Hollis, a swine veterinarian with Carthage (IL) Veterinary
Service, Ltd., Carthage, IL. He suggests the following to help make
sure your sows are as comfortable as possible:
- Crates with enough room for sows to lie comfortably
without crushing piglets. Hollis recommends crates that are at
least five feet wide.
- Crates with a device such as a flipper bar
to protect pigs when sows lie down.
- Dry, non-slick, non-abrasive flooring.
- Proper room and crate ventilation to keep sows
as close to thermal-neutral (65 degrees) as possible, with adequate
zone heating for baby pigs. Plastic flooring in creep zone enhances
pig warmth and may allow somewhat lower room temperatures.
- Elevated platform to allow the sow to expose
the lower row of teats at a natural level for the pigs.
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