Early insemination offers hope for more piglet production

A new technique being tried out in the Netherlands brings more litters per year through serving sows during the suckling period

by NORMAN DUNN

European Union law stipulates 28 days as the minimum suckling period. In theory, at any rate, this means the number of farrowings per sow every year is reduced when compared with performance when 21 days was a normal suckling period on European swine farms.

Could the advantages of earlier weaning be recovered (up to 2.4 litters per sow/year were possible then) if sows could be served while still suckling?

Better Pork - June 2012