The productivity of a pig herd is measured in terms of pigs (or kg) produced per sow per year. Piglet mortality saps your farm’s productivity right from the start. Furthermore, mortality in the farrowing unit remains the highest in the industry, compared to other stages. Pre-weaning mortality in piglets ranges from 10% to 20%, whereas it is 2.5% in the finishing stages (Muns et al., 2016).
Even small reductions in piglet mortality translate into significant productivity improvements later on. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at how to prevent piglet mortality, starting with its causes, general measures to avoid it, and specific prevention strategies.