Tranquilizers help take the pain out of parturition for gilts and sows, according to German research. Results include less danger of piglet injuries, much more milk and better weight gain for the young litters.
by NORMAN DUNN
Over 12 per cent higher weight gain for piglets from gilts over the first 21 days? This eye-widening advantage comes from recordings on a large-scale swine unit where groups of gilts and sows were injected with tranquilizers immediately after farrowing. Even for sows, the litter weight gain improvement over a control group was five per cent and for both groups piglet mortality was reduced by two per cent, including a 30 per cent reduction in piglet death through overlaying.