Factors Influencing Birth Weight and Pre-weaning Weight Gain of Piglets Reared in Different Farrowing Facilities

Aim: This study aims at analysing the influence of variables such as farrowing facilities, parity, litter size and sex on the birth weight and pre-weaning weight of piglets.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Piggery Unit of Livestock Farm Complex, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, 600 007, India. The study was carried out for a period of twelve months from October 2021 to September 2022.

Methodology: The study comprised of eighteen Large White Yorkshire breed sows of different parities with 177 piglets that were reared in three types of farrowing systems which included Conventional farrowing crate, Guard rail model & modified farrowing facility.

Results: Litter size, season of farrowing, number of stillbirth and parity affected birth weight significantly (p < 0.01). It was seen that each increase in the number of litter size reduces birth and weaning weight. However, parity had no statistically significant effect on the weaning weight (p > 0.05). Likewise, the type of farrowing facility (p > 0.05) also had no statistical significance on the birth weight.

Conclusion: The results of the present study reveal that mean birth weight and weaning weight were not influenced by the type of farrowing system they were reared in. However, season of farrowing affected the birth weight which could affect the pre-weaning survival.