Piglet snuggler reduces pre-weaning losses

Improvements in health and genetics may have brought substantial benefits to pig producers, but how do you manage increased litter sizes? Aly Balsom finds out

Since re-stocking pig numbers in 2006, the number of pigs born alive has increased dramatically in the herd of 900 high-health status sows at Halls Pig Farm, Monkstown.

However, as a result, litter size can sometimes be inconsistent, according to County Antrim farmer Derek Hall. “Some litters are close to 20 or 23 piglets and of these we may get some lightweight individuals.

“These smaller animals can occasionally have ‘sat nav’ problems, ending up in the corners of the pen and getting cold – as a result, we were getting some pre-weaning losses.”

In response, Mr Hall invested in the Piglet Snuggler, an insulated, temperature controlled box, designed to revive hypothermic piglets.

“Since introducing the Snuggler, we have reduced pre-weaning losses by at least 2%.

“We were putting small piglets under a heat lamp before, but this produces such an intense heat, it almost microwaves the piglets.”

A heat lamp has the potential to increase piglet temperatures to such an extent they dehydrate and die, explains Snuggler designer and independent consultant, Paul Wright.

“The idea behind the Snuggler is to get hypothermic piglets back up to a womb temperature of 38C and maintain it at this level,” he says.

“When sows farrow at night, often a number of piglets fail to find the teat and are found in the corner of the pen in the morning.”

And these piglets’ body temperature may have dropped to as low as 20C, so it is essential to warm them back up and get them suckling.

“These piglets can be placed back on the heat mat, but this can warm them up too quickly and not all the way through. Often these piglets are just warm enough to struggle back off the mat and cool back down again.”

By placing these hypothermic piglets in the Snuggler, individuals are warmed to a consistent temperature, all the way through.

“At least 90% of hypothermic piglets placed in the Snuggler survive,” says Mr Wright.

Mr Hall still uses the heat lamp on occasions for whole litters, but the Snuggler is useful for individual or smaller numbers of piglets needing more attention, he says.

“The trouble is, when piglets are chilled, they won’t move and suckle.

“As soon as a piglet is seen lying in a corner, we put it straight in the Snuggler until it picks up.”

These chilled piglets are given an energy boost and placed in the heated box until they start to move about. They are then given another energy boost and put back with the sow. “How long they are kept in the Snuggler varies depending on individuals, but may be as little as 20 minutes.

“As soon as they begin to get active, they are ready to go back with the sow and actively suckle.”

And the unit has also proved useful for sows farrowing prematurely, he says. “When a sow farrows outside in the sow house, the Snuggler is a good way to heat up these piglets. We may use the heat lamp and Snuggler in these cases, with particularly weak piglets being placed in the Snuggler.”

And from a management point of view, the Snuggler is incredibly simple to use, says Mr Hall. “You simply plug the unit in and turn it on. The temperature is pre-set and it takes about 10 minutes to warm up.”

Up to four or five piglets can be put in at one time and the lid shut until they warm up. “I keep the unit in the farrowing room passage and just put the piglets in when necessary. It’s also easy to clean as you can take the whole control panel out and wash out thoroughly.”

The number needed by a farm will depend on individual systems, he says. “In more drafty farrowing rooms, where temperature may be a problem, more than one Snuggler may be needed. I would suggest trying one and then deciding from there.