- Most lifestyle farmers use outdoor huts for farrowing sows.
- Huts should be situated in a sheltered spot and made airtight to retain the sow's body heat.
- Adequate dry bedding must be provided.
- It is best to arrange for farrowing to occur in summer.
- When farrowing outside in cool or cold weather, it is important that the farrowing area is warm and dry.
- Piglets are susceptible to chilling and for the first 2 weeks or so additional heat can be provided for them, using heat pads or heat lamps in a protected area alongside the sow.
- Group farrowing can cause competition between sows, and individual huts in separate paddocks are best.
- Creep feed can be offered to the piglets in the heated area and they will begin to take it from about a week of age.
- Details
- Written by: Dr Clive Dalton
