Are Your Piglets Getting a Healthy Start?

Key Takeaways

• Piglets are born with low iron stores, so administering iron injections within the first 1-3 days of life is critical to prevent anemia, support growth, and maintain overall health.
• Strong sanitation and biosecurity practices – including clean footbaths, proper chore order, and all-in/all-out management – help reduce disease transfer between groups.
• Piglet vaccination programs should be tailored to herd disease pressure, with early protection focused on respiratory and scours prevention, followed by boosters and additional coverage as pigs grow.
• Deworming at weaning supports immune function and overall performance, using medicated feed, water-soluble, or injectable products as appropriate for the operation.
• Protecting sow and gilt immunity through proper pre-breeding vaccinations strengthens reproductive success and enhances piglet health through improved colostrum and maternal protection.

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A strong piglet start depends on more than what happens at farrowing. Iron supplementation, sanitation, vaccination programs, and protecting sow immunity all play critical roles in early piglet health. 

Dr. Laura Meier, Technical Service Veterinarian at Valley Vet Supply, shares how putting the right practices in place may help reduce disease risk and support stronger, more productive pigs.

Iron Shots

Piglets are born with limited iron reserves, and sow milk contains very little iron. Without supplementation, piglets are at risk of developing anemia, which can negatively impact growth and overall health. For this reason, a common industry practice is to administer an iron injection shortly after birth, typically within one to three days.

Recommendations:

• • Piglets that will be weaned before 28 days of age or raised on dirt floors are generally adequately supported with a single 100 mg iron injection shortly after birth.
  • Piglets that will be weaned after 28 days of age require additional iron, and a 200 mg injection is recommended shortly after birth. Iron Dextran Injection or Iron-200 Injection
  • A second iron injection may be given prior to weaning, or iron can be supplemented through creep feed using products such as Sweet Iron.

Sanitation and Biosecurity

To minimize disease transfer between farrowing crates, use clean footbaths when entering each farrowing room. Maintain and change disinfectant foot dips regularly. Virkon-S is a strong option for swine biosecurity due to its high efficacy and versatility in footbaths, pen disinfection, and air misting.

To further reduce disease spread, follow this daily chore order:

• • Farrowing and suckling piglets - youngest and most vulnerable
  • Nursery pigs - developing immune systems 
  • Breeding and gestation herd - mature sows
  • Grower and finisher pigs - often carry higher pathogen loads
  • Sick pens and isolation units - Visit last, or assign a separate caretaker

Implement all-in, all-out management at the room or building level. Completely empty facilities between groups, then thoroughly clean and disinfect before introducing new pigs.

Piglet Vaccinations and Deworming

Vaccination programs for piglets can vary by operation and disease pressure. Work with your veterinarian to develop a protocol that fits your herd. The following are general guideline examples.

One Week Old

• • Rhinishield TX4 - respiratory protection
  • Endovac Porci - scours protection

Three Weeks Old

• • Rhinishield TX4 Booster
  • Endovac Porci Booster
  • Fostera Gold PCV MH or Circumvent PCV-M G2 - circovirus and Mycoplasma protection
  • Circumvent C-M-L Swine Vaccine - can be used instead to include Lawsonia protection

Five Weeks Old

• • FluSure XP - swine influenza 
  • ParaSail - additional respiratory protection
  • PRRS - only for PRRS-positive herds or herds at high risk

Deworming

Weaning is a good time to deworm piglets to help support overall health and immune function.

Options for growing piglets include:

• • Safeguard Swine and Durafend Multi-Species Medicated Dewormer
  • Safeguard Aquasol
  • Injectable Ivermectin (Ivermectin Injection 1%, Noromectin, Agri-Mectin, Ivomec 1% Injection, Bimectin)
  • Dectomax or Doramectin Injectable

Sow and Gilt Vaccinations

Do not forget about the dams. Pre-breeding vaccinations support reproductive success and help reduce abortions and reproductive losses.

Pre-Breeding Vaccination Recommendations

Farrowsure Gold B or Parvo Shield L5 E

• • Gilts: two doses given 3 to 5 weeks apart before first breeding
  • Second dose ideally 2 to 4 weeks prior to breeding
  • Sows: one dose prior to breeding if previously primed as gilts
  • Boars: vaccinate semi-annually

PRRS

• • Use PRRS vaccines only in PRRS-positive herds or herds with a high risk of exposure from incoming pigs or commingling.

Good preparation and consistent protocols lead to healthier piglets and fewer setbacks. Investing in these foundational practices pays off through stronger litters and better long-term results.

Continue learning with more articles in our Farrowing Season series:

• • Are Your Sows Farrowing Ready?
  • Keys to a Successful Farrowing

Whether for horse, livestock or pet, Valley Vet Supply is your one-stop shop for trusted care. Explore more of our swine category at ValleyVet.com.