Feed and feeding of sows

by lovemore k nyabadza
Feed and feeding of sows
 Sows –female pig which is already into the reproductive phase or have already
farrowed.

 The sows like to eat more feed than necessary and if allowed to will become too fat
and less productive.

 Feeding in sows differs with phases and the following stages have different feeding
programmes:
1. Service period-flush feeding.

2. Pregnancy period-gestation feeding

3. Periods between weaning and oestrus.

ADVANTAGES OF MONITORING FEEDS AND FEEDING OF SOWS

 Helps to achieve a high of breeding efficiency through:

1. Short weaning to service interval.

2. A strong heat.

3. Large numbers of ova produced and fertilised.

4. High embryo survival.

 Condition score of 2, 5 is acceptable at weaning and 3-3,5 for sows pre farrowing.
Flushing
 Increasing nutrient intake and body condition prior to and during breeding is
called flushing.

 It increases the rate of ovulation and, hence increasing the litter size.

 The response to flushing is influenced by:-mature sows vs younger sows

 Sows will release as many eggs as possible during ovulation.

 This should be done until the boar has finished serving (on her last mating) or on the
day of last

 Increase daily sow feed from 2kg-1.8kg per day to 2.25kg-2.5kg per day
Feeding In sow
 Gestation Feeding
 Feed during gestation is used to:
1. grow the fetal pigs,

2. maintain and grow sow muscle tissue, and

3. replenish sow fat reserves lost during previous lactations.

 Gestation diets should be designed to:

 Maximize litter size

 Optimize birth weight of the piglets.

 Minimize the wean-to-conception period.

However overfeeding the sows will have the following effects

Cont…
 Higher feed costs due to more feed intake results in :

1. Sows that are excessively fat with low conception rate.

2. Overweight sows are more stressed by summer heat than normal.

3. Fat sows are less nimble and more likely to crush their young.

4. Overweight sows wean lighter litters due to poorer milk production.

Feeding Lactating sow
Feeding Lactating sow –cont..
 If not fed properly lactating sows will become too thin.
Excessively thin sows:
1. May lose muscle tissue resulting in pre– mature culling.

2. May have difficulty maintaining body temperature in cold weather.

3. Are more susceptible to shoulder sores, wounds, and problems with their feet and legs.

 Lactation diets should be formulated to maximize milk production and minimize loss of muscle in the
sow.

 increasing the amount of feed fed to the sow

 also increasing the amino acid content of the diet.

 Immediately following farrowing the sow’s feed intake should be limited, but rapidly increased over
the next three to seven days to full feed.