Farrowing Room Observation

Determine farm protocols to:

  • To observe each pig for health status and vigor.
  • Identify and provide appropriate treatments for sick pigs.
  • Record observations and actions taken for improvement in animal care.
  • Determine criteria to take revise current protocols or take additional actions.

There are multiple ways to perform this procedure. The following is a template to assist in customizing a standard operating procedure for this procedure on your farm. Edit as necessary to describe the procedures specific to your farm.

Introduction

Regular observations can help identify problems with sows, piglets and/or the room environment early, so that the necessary interventions can be implemented. Animals in the farrowing room should be observed on a regular schedule several times per day.

Safety

Hazards: lifting, stepped on by animal, needle stick, fall (slip, trip), caught between gates, sow feeder or safety bars, animal bite, dust (respiratory), noise (hearing)

Personalprotective equipment (PPE) that may be used to help ensure safety includes hearing protection, a dust mask and safety-toe boots.

Supplies

Supplies needed for Farrowing Room Observationmay include:

  • Medications and equipment to treat sows and piglets (as recommended in your herd health plan)
  • Pen and notebook (daily observation log)
  • Carrying tote

Procedure

  • Gather the appropriate suppliesand place in a carrying tote.
  • When entering the room, avoid making excess noise.
  • Observe all animals:
  • Observe farrowing rooms from youngest (the most recently farrowed) to the oldest. Observe how pigs and sows are laying and acting. Sows lying down should appear calm and comfortable. Piglets should be lying uniformly,but not piling.
  • Observe the environment:
  • Note abnormal odors such as LP gas, ammonia, etc.
  • Does it feel too hot, cold, humid or drafty?
  • Check if air temperature in roomsfor newborn pigs is at the level required in your farm protocols.
  • Check that supplemental heat sourcesare working.
  • Airspeed at inlets should be fast enough to provide mixing of air without drafting piglets with cold air.

Maintain proper hygiene.

  • Before sows are loaded, farrowing stalls should be clean, disinfected and in functional condition.(See “Cleaning Farrowing Room Before Loading” SOP)
  • Scrape stalls behind sows daily to keep areafree of manure.

Observe piglet behavior.

  • If the piglets are piling on each other, they may be too cold.
  • If the piglets are spread out and not under the heat lamp, they may be too hot.
  • If the piglets are lying close to each other, but not piling, they are comfortable.

Piglet Temperature

Observe the piglet condition.

  • Listenfor squealing, and look for gaunt pigs and/or animals with asucked-inappearance or backbone showing.
  • Look for pigs that have diarrhea, respiratory distress, lameness, skin conditions, neurological disorders or ruptures.

Health Issue Detection

Refer to the farm health protocols for recommended actions, per conditions observed.

Observe sow behavior and condition.

  • Check feed, water, health and perceived comfort of the sows.
  • Look for any sows that are off-feed, lame or have an abnormal vaginal discharge (excessively bloody, off-color, foul-smelling, etc.).
  • Refer to farm treatment protocols if any issues arise.

Follow-up

Walk the farrowing rooms regularly.If disease, injury or other issues are suspected, record on observation log, and contact your supervisor.