Also known as Cannibalism, Puerperal psychosis
Savage piglets (puerperal psychosis, cannibalism) occurs worldwide in gilt. It is most common in filt with their first litters and often associated with fear or nerviousness of the new farrowing environment.
- Causes of Savaging piglets >
- Effects of Savaging piglets >
- Diagnosis of Savaging piglets >
- Treatment & Control of Savaging piglets >
Causes of Savaging piglets
Savage was most common in gilt with their first litters and is often associated with nervousness or apprehension in the gilt before farrowing. It may occur in some families or breeds and may be associated with fear of the new farrowing environment, especially when the animals have been loose Housed prior to crating.
The hormonal changes associated with farrowing may contribute to the behavior. In some cases, a sick sow may start attacking her piglets or piglets with unclipped teeth may damage the udder and cause pain.
Poor relationships with stock may also predispose persons to the savage as crating may sow in conditions where the piglets can pass in front of the sow frequently.
Effects of Savaging piglets
Gilt savage piglets which can often be identified by their appearance nervous and wild eyes. They may be aggressive towards persons stock and grunt aggressively or swing their heads towards any annoyance. The first two or three piglets of the litter may be seized and bitten or worried or simply be eaten. If the sow remains nervous, the whole litter may be destroyed. This behaviour is normally confined to first litter gilt, but may recur in subsequent litters.
Piglets which have been injured may have obvious cuts on head or shoulders and sometimes on the back. These tears cut and dry quickly in the warm environment and the farrowing piglet may recover.
Diagnosis of Savaging piglets
There may be a savage in history or previous litters, and the record card should be consulted. Sows may be wild and aggressive or fail to settle in a farrowing crate. Savage may be observed directly during supervision of farrowing or heard as piglets are attacked.
Where piglets are killed and left, there are tooth marks on the carcass or triangular tears on the head, shoulders and hind quarters.
Where they are completely eaten, cannibalism can be suspected if the sow is seen to have blood on her face or if a count of piglets born has been carried out and there are animals missing when predators could not be responsible or other workers could not have collected casualties.
Post-mortem examination will confirm the presence of crushing injury to life and bleeding into muscle bruised. The condition may have to be distinguished from crushing.
Treatment & Control of Savaging piglets
Piglets should be confined in the creep for 15-20 minutes after birth to stop them walking in front of a newly farrowed sow. Gradually they should be introduced to the sow and allowed to suck.
- The initial contact should be observed so as to prevent savage.
- Azaperone can be injected to tranquilise the sow and reduce her fear.
- The condition can be prevented by recording incidents and ensuring that sows which have savaged previous litters are Closely observed until the litter is safe.
- Gilt entering farrowing accommodation should be Assessed for signs of nervousness.
- Newly confined gilt should be given straw and allowed to play with it or eat it.
- The house should be warm and free from drafts and disturbance should be minimized.
- The sow's reaction to the other sows or piglets should be Assessed and the piglets to which the sow is exposed rescued if attacked and returned to their mother.
- As the condition may be familial, not consider retaining the offspring of sows screaming and savage in which the herd and do not use them for breeding.
