title: The effect of double nursing, an alternative nursing strategy for the hyper-prolific sow herd, on herd performance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyper-prolific sows produce more piglets than they can suckle, as the number of milk producing teats of the sow is lower (twelve to sixteen) than the number of live born piglets per litter. Farmers and farm workers are struggling to feed this surplus of piglets. To minimize suckling piglet mortality, litter size at 24 hours after parturition should not exceed the number of functional teats of the sow. Strategies to adequately nurse or feed the surplus of piglets after 24 hours are limited and mostly restricted to either fostering piglets by other sows, supplying milk replacers (formula) or early weaning and rearing on formula.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case report we describe the design and application of a so called 'double nursing' strategy, for which one sow simultaneously nurses two litters from birth to weaning. Piglet mortality and reproductive parameters of sows that have nursed two litters are compared, over a three year period, with those that nursed one litter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this herd, the double nursing strategy appeared to be a successful strategy. Double nursing sows experienced a lower piglet mortality, despite the double nursing strategy. The negative effects on reproduction proved to be limited, there was a negative effect on litter size in subsequent litters, but no significant effect on the interval weaning to next conception. It has to be noted though that not all characteristics on which double nursing selection takes place, could be taken into account during statistical analyses.
authors.affiliation: GD Animal Health Service, PO box 9 7400 AA, Deventer, The Netherlands.|PorQ BV, P.O. Box 52, 5690 AB, Son, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Manon A M
authors.initials: MAM
authors.lastname: Houben
authors.affiliation: Department of Farm Animal Health, Utrecht University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tijs J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Tobias
authors.affiliation: GD Animal Health Service, PO box 9 7400 AA, Deventer, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Manon M C
authors.initials: MMC
authors.lastname: Holstege
keywords: Cross fostering; Farrowing house management; Mortality; Pig; Sow