In case of emergency such as an orphaned litter, harmed piglet, or unsafe
mom/environment, intervention made be needed to save a litter or a piglet. It is
not recommended or acceptable to remove a piglet or litter from the sow unless
it is to save a life.
The first 24 hours of a piglet’s life it is essential that it get the first milk or
colostrum from mother. This milk increases a piglet’s protection against bacteria
and viruses. If a piglet or litter has been orphaned and the mother is unable to
provide the colostrum a colostrum replacer or goat’s colostrum are the best
choice for feed the first 24-48 hours of life.
The piglet or piglets are unable to produce their own body heat, so they must
have a heat source that will keep them 85-90 degrees with no drafts. Heat lamp
or heating pad are a good source. Straw bedding, small blankets that will not trap
the piglet can also provide warmth. Their area must be kept dry and warm.
Piglets need feeding every 1-2 hours the first 24-48 hours allowing the piglet to
take in what it can of the colostrum.
Bottle feeding is never recommended. Pan or syringe feeding is the preferred
method to deliver the colostrum. Bottle feeding is associated to a risk of
aspiration that can then lead to respiratory issues, such as pneumonia which can
be fatal quickly.
Syringe feeding can be done slowly and gentle, but never forcing the colostrum
into the piglets mouth. Gentle, slow drops of colostrum and measuring the
consumption and times to track intact.
Pan feeding is a preferred method that may take a bit of persistence and
patience, but safer intact of colostrum and eventually milk replacer or goat’s milk.
To initiate pan feeding simply dip your finger in the colostrum and apply to piglets
mouth. Try this over and over allowing the piglet to take the colostrum from you
finger while drawing the piglet closer to the shallow dish. Bring the piglet close
enough over time so that the snout is over the dish and the piglet can be lead to
dip a snout in and drink. If this method is not effective you can be more direct
and dip the piglet’s snout into the pan of colostrum 2-3 times. If you have a piglet
that is successfully pan feeding allow it to teach the others.
Once the piglet or piglets have received the 24-48 hours of colostrum or
colostrum replacer they can receive goat’s milk. This can be fresh goat’s milk or
the canned or powered from the grocery. All species milk replacer from the feed
or farm supply store is also a good choice for supplementing. Again, this should
be from a shallow dish and offered every 2-3 hours.
Infant rice cereal can be added to the milk to gradually thicken over time and add
extra nutrients. By the end of 4-5 weeks of pan feeding that milk can be
thickened with cereal to the consistency of oatmeal. Thickening can ease the
transition to pellets.
At 3-5 weeks pellets can be added to the milk and cereal and dissolved to form a
mass. Allowing the piglets to get a taste for the pellets. Gradual cut back on the
amount of milk/cereal leaving only pellets over time.
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