Grazing and Rearing Sow Management
The management of gilts plays a crucial role in determining their initial age, overall growth, and lifetime productivity. Most farms use imported breeds, which often share similar characteristics—such as delayed sexual maturity and less obvious estrus signs. This makes breeding more challenging, emphasizing the importance of proper gilt development.
Mating should occur when gilts are at least 100 kg and over 7 months old, having experienced at least two estrus cycles. This ensures they have reached sexual maturity, with fully developed reproductive systems capable of supporting pregnancy. A weight above 100 kg also meets the body requirements for adult sows.
Overfeeding gilts can lead to rapid growth and delayed estrus. Therefore, controlled feeding is widely accepted as best practice. However, in practice, excessive restriction may cause delays in reaching maturity. It’s recommended that gilts be allowed free access to feed until 5 months of age, reaching about 70 kg. From 5 to 6 months, mineral- and Vitamin-rich feeds should be introduced, with 2 kg per day. As they grow, the feed amount should gradually increase, promoting weight gain and estrus while maintaining a body condition of 80–90%.
For gilts that fail to show estrus, several strategies can help. Introducing them to boars for increased activity, adding vitamins A and E, green feed, and carrots to their diet, or using aphrodisiac horse serum injections can stimulate estrus.
Pregnant sow feeding requires careful attention to three key goals: producing a large number of healthy piglets, ensuring normal mammary gland development, and minimizing feed costs. This makes feeding during pregnancy both simple and complex.
Key periods during pregnancy include:
1. The first 3 days after mating, when fertilized eggs are highly sensitive to energy levels.
2. Around day 12 to 21, when high nutrition or heat can increase embryonic loss.
3. Between 70 and 90 days, when mammary gland development occurs—excess energy here can hinder development.
4. After 100 days, when fetal growth becomes critical. Proper nutrition is essential, but feed should be reduced 3 days before farrowing to avoid dystocia. Energy and protein levels should be maintained at 12% and 0.43% lysine, respectively.
Lactation feeding is vital for sows to meet the demands of milk production and recovery. High-energy, high-protein, and palatable feed is essential, along with a comfortable environment to encourage feed intake. Standardized procedures and postnatal care ensure the sow's health and well-being.
During lactation, sows rely not only on feed but also on stored body reserves like fat and calcium. Insufficient feed can lead to poor milk quality, weight loss, and weakness. Adding oil to the feed (1–3%) increases energy and palatability, helping sows consume more than 6 kg daily, especially in summer when feeding frequency increases.
Before farrowing, it's important to clean and disinfect the sow’s genital area and udder, express some colostrum, and allow piglets to nurse immediately. Colostrum is critical for immunity and survival.
For difficult births, oxytocin is commonly used, especially for older or underweight sows. If pigs are oversized or positioned incorrectly, manual assistance may be required, though this carries infection risks. Utensils must be disinfected, and antibiotics administered post-delivery.
Managing suckling pigs is key to improving survival rates and weaning success. Early colostrum intake, teat fixation, temperature control, iron supplementation, and timely feeding are all important.
Weaned pigs face significant challenges due to weakened immunity and exposure to pathogens. Diseases like mycoplasma, porcine circovirus, and blue ear disease can weaken the immune system, increasing mortality. Pre-weaning feed adjustments, enzyme supplements, and careful feeding practices are essential. A suitable environment, temperature control, and preventive medications like Zhiyuanjing, amoxicillin, and chlortetracycline help reduce losses.
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