Summary:
Drink water during breastfeeding
Learn to eat
Tips for successful eating
My sow is constipated after farrowing. What can I do, nutritionally speaking?
How much creep food should piglets eat?
How should I feed my sows between weaning and finishing?
October 31, 2023
During lactation, the main goals of nutrition are:
(1) To maximize the sow’s milk production to best support her litter.
(2) To reduce loss of body reserves.
Undernutrition during lactation has been shown to reduce fertility and embryo survival in subsequent litters. Ensuring that lactating sows have an adequate feeding program is essential for optimal reproductive performance. This has a significant impact on the return to heat of first-generation sows and their ability to maintain the herd in the future.
Food amount
Maintaining and increasing the feed intake of sows during lactation can be difficult. It is important to remember that optimal dietary intake during late pregnancy will promote appetite during lactation. Often, sows that are fed ad libitum late in pregnancy will not consume enough during lactation and will subsequently lose body condition and milk production.
It is important to consider differences between litters and how this may affect nutritional requirements. Sows have a higher feed intake than gilts; therefore, gilts may require higher nutrient concentrations. For this reason, it may be beneficial to have two diets on the farm: one for litters 1–2 and one for litters 2–3 onwards.
Nutritional recommendations for lactating sows
The table below gives typical feed specifications for lactating sows and gilts.
Feed specifications should be used as a guide. They are based on what nutritionists consider appropriate. Consult your nutritionist for additional recommendations.
Oxidative stress can negatively affect reproductive performance, so it is important that lactating sows’ diets are adequately supplemented with antioxidants, including Vitamin E (Table 1 ) and selenium.
Additional additives are considered
In addition to the nutrient recommendations above, the following additives may also be considered for lactating sows:
Phytase
The addition of phytase to the diets of lactating sows has been shown to increase the nutritional value of the feed by increasing phosphorus release.
Yeast
Supplementing yeast (both live and dry) into the diet of lactating sows has a beneficial effect on the intestinal mucosa of the sow and her litter.
Grain processing enzymes
Cereal enzymes, such as xylanase, can be included in the diet of lactating sows to break down dietary fiber and enhance nutrient digestibility.
L-carnitine
Research has demonstrated that L-carnitine supplementation during lactation can improve litter performance.
Quantity of food
During lactation, the goal should be to maximize feed intake and meet the sow’s considerable milk potential without using up body reserves. Figure 1 shows a curve for a typical lactating sow. Feed intake during lactation should start low and gradually increase as the sow’s appetite increases.
Figure 1. Example of feeding curve for a lactating sow
Lactating sows should be fed at least twice a day, but preferably three times a day (or even seven times a day if on an automatic feeding system) as this has been shown to increases food intake by up to 15%. Free-feeding systems for lactating sows are common, allowing the sows to eat well. During lactation, sows have different tastes and nutritional needs, so it may be beneficial to have two on-farm rations, one for litters 1–2 and one for litters. Litters 2–3 onwards.
In warmer weather, heat stress often reduces feed intake by sows. Not only can this affect milk production and therefore piglet growth, but sows weaned in poorer conditions also have a longer weaning-to-estrus interval – especially especially sows giving birth to their first litter. To maintain the feed intake of lactating sows during the summer months, consider feeding more frequently – ideally three or more meals per day – and feeding during cooler times of the day.
Diets with higher nutrient concentrations may also be beneficial when feed intake is low to ensure that sows receive higher nutrient concentrations with reduced feed intake. A temporary measure may also include the use of a top dressing product.
Pig production system feeding requirements
A lactating sow is susceptible to overheating because she cannot lose heat quickly enough and therefore her feed intake often decreases when she is pregnant.