MANAGEMENT
PIH-46
pork industry handbook
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE • PURDUE UNIVERSITY • WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
Care of the Sow during Farrowing and Lactation
Authors
David C. England, Oregon State University
Hobart W. Jones, Purdue University
Dwight E. Younkin, Pennsylvania State University
Reviewers
Jerry Hawton, University of Minnesota
Barry J. Steevens, University of Wyoming
Arnold Rose, Cawker City, Kansas
Introduction
Proper care of the sow during gestation, farrowing, and lactation is a means to reach a goal—a large litter of healthy pigs at birth that will remain healthy and grow rapidly. Care during this time must also prepare the sow for a successful repeat performance at the earliest time within the system of weaning and rebreeding used. The sow must reach farrowing in the best nutritional and microbiological health for herself and for the expected litter. Properly balanced rations should be fed in recommended amounts so that newborn pigs are well developed and strong. A herd health program that assures minimal exposure of the sow to disease or disease carriers during gestation is essential for maximal litter survival during the first weeks of life and for effective growth to weaning and market. The sows should be managed in a gentle and confident manner and on a regular daily schedule.

Pre-farrowing
Deworming Sows
Sows should be dewormed about two weeks before moving to farrowing crates or pens. Treatment for external parasites at least twice (in approved repeat times for the product used) also should be accomplished within a few days before movement to the farrowing facility. (See PIH-44).

Prepare the Farrowing Units
If possible, the total farrowing unit should be cleaned completely of organic matter, disinfected and left unused for 5-7 days before a new group of sows is placed in the unit. When this is not practical, at least the individual pen, stall or crate should be completely cleaned of organic matter and disinfected before a new sow is placed in the unit.

"Clean" means what it says. The floors, partition walls, ceilings and equipment should have all organic matter, including dust, removed. This can be accomplished by
scraping, use of high pressure cleaners, steam cleaners, and/or a stiff scrub brush. Do a complete job.

Disinfectants are useless unless the cleaning job is complete. But there are many good disinfectants available, including the quaternary ammonium compounds, iodoform
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, State of Indiana, Purdue University and U. S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating. H. G. Diesslin, Director, West Lafayette, IN. Issued in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. It is the policy of the Cooperative Extension Service of Purdue University that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to its programs and facilities without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age or handicap.