Nursery Guidelines

Here are some helpful guidelines to get your pigs off to the best start possible:

• Maximize sow lactation intakes for optimal weaning weights.
• Set rigorous biosecurity standards.
• Sanitation – excellent cleaning, disinfecting and drying between batches ensures “new starts without baggage”.
• A warm, dry environment on entry.
• A newly weaned pig requires an animal level temperature of between 25 and 30ºC depending on bodyweight, with temperature fluctuations of less than 2ºC.
• Enough feeder space (minimum of 1.5”/pig).
• Target feed intakes immediately post weaning should be around 1% of body weight on day 1, 2% on day 2 and 3% by day 3.
• Manual pan or mat feeding to help start pigs on feed at entry.
• Water—ideally several locations within a pen. 10 pigs/nipple or 15/bowl.
• Flow rate should be at least 1 L/min with a pH of < 7. Ventilation – proper inlet and exhaust sizing for pig requirements.
• Good air flow pattern for optimizing pig comfort while minimizing heat & hydro usage.
• Sort smallest pigs off on entry and adapt your feeding program for them.
• Establish a hospital pen and treat individual pigs.

For more information about Purina’s NEW PigTech Nursery Program contact your Purina Swine Consultant or Dealer, or call 1-800-567-CHOW (2469).