Fig. 1

Schematic drawing of the double nursing strategy in a farrowing room. Double nursing sows (DNS) nurse two matched groups of piglets from approximately 12 to 24 hours after parturition until weaning. The two groups are matched by age and number of piglets. a) One group consists of the litter born from the DNS (blue) and the other group consists of an entire litter from one other sow (red). b) The sow of this litter is then available as foster sow for the surplus piglets (grey) of the same farrowing batch. c) One group is housed in the farrowing crate with the DNS, whereas the other group is housed separately in a small pen with a heater, a drinking nipple and milk formula in a feeding through. d) Twice a day, preferably every 12 hours, both groups are exchanged