Factors that Increase Stillbirth in Piglets

Pig farmers must redouble their attention to non-infectious risk factors that directly influence piglet stillbirth rates, warns veterinarian Laura dos Santos from Auster Animal Nutrition. According to the Agriness 2024 Report, the Brazilian average of weaned piglets per female per year rose to 29.99, an increase of 1.08 compared to 2020. However, the percentage of stillbirths and deaths at birth still varies between 5.19% and 8.40% in farms. "In this sense, caution is necessary when inducing labor, and it is essential to know the average gestation duration of females in the system, and thus establish a safe and effective labor induction protocol," notes the specialist. Factors such as inadequate gestation duration, prolonged labor, long pre-labor fasting, and advanced age of matrices are among the main culprits. Studies show that females with gestation of 113 days or less have 2% more stillbirths, due to piglet immaturity. Additionally, births initiated more than six hours after ...