With larger litters and limited teat capacity, many producers have increased interest in management strategies such as split suckling and teat optimization, writes Abigail Jenkins, PhD. Sharing modern research trial perspectives, she notes there was no improvement in growth performance and inconsistent effects on mortality when split suckling was practiced.
Teat loading decisions should align with each production system’s economic priorities, whether that is maximizing individual pig performance or total throughput with labor allocation an important consideration.
Source: National Hog Farmer, March-April, 2026. Link.
Focused management before, during, and immediately after farrowing has a more reliable impact on pig survival.”
INSIGHTS: Referencing this article may help animal health pros collaborate with producers to better define their management strategies and SOPs.
Also see: Search results for: pigs per litter, AHD Archives. Link.
Image: Link.