By AKKPS Member Tracy Crist of Hopewell Heritage Farm

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** CAUTION - CAST IRON GETS HOT UNDER A HEAT LAMP **

Many things can cause the need to supplement nursing piglets. From sick sows to teats that are difficult to get to, piglets can be supplemented and remain with the litter.

The biggest obstacle is getting the piglet to accept the formula. Nothing beats sow milk and piglets will strongly object to anything else so how do you get them to cooperate?

Piglets are programmed to root on the sow which facilitates the nursing response. Even if a sow is so unwell that she doesn’t respond to her piglets you can still use the piglet’s instinct to nurse to train them to the formula.

The first step is to get your sow to lay down and expose her belly. Gather a few supplies: get formula nice and warm, a towel, a syringe, a small spoon, and a pan if you plan to pan feed as well. I have found the best pan is cast iron skillets. They are heavy and the piglets don’t slip around as much.

Fill your syringe with formula and wait for the piglets to begin rooting. Drip a few drops of formula on the top of the teat. If you have more piglets than teats also drip the formula on the space between each teat. The need to root and nurse will force the piglet to make contact with the formula. After a few attempts to avoid this strange milk, their need to nurse will make them return. Stay the course if you see the piglets trying to avoid the formula. Keep adding the formula to the sow’s belly and teats. Once a piglet begins to actively suckle a teat, add additional drips to the top of the teat. The formula will naturally flow around and into the piglets mouth. Expect the piglet to pop off the teat and try to escape this unfamiliar flavor, but they will be back! Just keep repeating the process. Once they are familiar with the flavor they will stay put on the teat and nurse as if the sow is letting down milk. This is when you can increase the speed of your drips to help satisfy the piglet. Once you see the piglet has accepted the flavor you have won the first battle. If you need to begin pan feeding as well there are a few more tools needed: a spoon and baby rice cereal to thicken the formula. Expect a mess.

Once piglets accept the formula, train them to a spoon which ultimately leads to the pan. Put a small amount of thickened formula on a spoon. At first the piglets will refuse, but again, be patient and stay the course. Try to stick to an every hour to hour and a half feed schedule. You want piglets to recognize your arrival means they get to eat. Use their hunger drive against them. Don’t worry about the piglets never wanting to return to nursing off mom. They will always prefer mom to pan feeding and your goal would be for you to eventually step back once your sow has recovered. Keeping piglets stimulating the mammary is hugely important if you’re able to get the dam nursing again.

Spoon a small amount of thickened formula to the piglets. If they refuse because of the formula change, go back to your original method of placing on the sow teats and belly. They will accept it.

Once the piglets are tasting the formula on the spoon, draw the spoon downward until the piglet lowers its head. Doing this in your pan is ideal as you want to drop a little food onto the pan as you pull the spoon away. After a few times, the piglet will notice the food in the pan. All it takes is a couple piglets to be successful and others will follow. Having a heat lamp over your feed pan also helps because they will get chilled. A cold piglet looses its desire to eat, so keep them warm.

So be patient, accept dirty piglets and your babies will thrive!