Litter Piglet Processing
“Litter processing” refers to the procedures that are performed on piglets with the expressed desire to improve their health. Litter processing may include any all or none of these procedures shown in this table:
| Procedure | Used when birth is attended | Performed from a few hours to a few days of age | Considered an animal welfare issue | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drying off piglets | Yes | No | No | |
| Trimming their umbilical cord | Yes | No | No | |
| Placing piglets near sow udder or under heat lamp | Yes | No | No | |
| Measuring body weight | Yes/maybe | Maybe | No | |
| Trimming needle teeth* | Yes | Yes | Yes (but rarely performed today) | |
| Injection (by mouth or i.m) of iron dextran | Yes | Yes | No/minor | |
| Tail docking* | Yes | Yes | Yes | The Tail Docking Tail Biting Site |
| Castration of males* | Yes | Yes | Yes | The Pig Castration Site |
* Not recommended to be performed in the first 24 hours because the stress of these procedures will reduce nursing during the critical period in which colostrum is produced and consumed. Too much stress the first day may reduce maternal antibodies absorbed by piglets when they miss one or more nursing bout.
Laboratory of Animal Behavior, Physiology and Welfare
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Address
1308 Indiana Ave Lubbock, TX 79409-2141 -
Phone
806.834.8275 -
Email
john.mcglone@ttu.edu