Podcast: How to lower pig mortality
In this 46th episode of the Real P3 podcast, Dr Casey Bradley speaks to Sanne Baden in Denmark who shares some very practical advice on how pig producers can reduce mortality on their farms.
The Real P3 podcast series is an initiative where pork professionals worldwide share their thoughts, insights and solutions to their day-to-day challenges in the pig farming and production industry.
Sanne was born in 1975 and began working with pigs in 1992 since her first visit to a pig farm multiplication unit. She has gained much knowledge on pig production through her many travels abroad, and from working for bigger genetic companies. She’s currently teaching agriculture and consulting.
Back to basics
A pig is “a very sensitive creature”, she said. In terms of pig mortality, pig producers need to go back to the basics and simply ask when a pig will be born, and what kind of environment the pig will be born into.
Baden discussed what she calls the ‘greedy farmer syndrome’ where she addresses concerns around farrowing houses, and notes that it is a huge problem should a sow give birth the same day that they are moved. “Things like this must stop – what you give is what you get,” she says.
Baden touches on the right room temperature, the maximum ventilation during farrowing, heat lamps, straw, and fat sows. She also offers some pointers on training and the importance of staying practical.
