Information Sheet 2.

4-3
Care of Lactating Sows

Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. know what is the important of lactation.
2. provide proper health care for lactating sow.
Allotted time: 40 minutes

Sows with piglets may also be called “Lactating sows”. Suckling period
could be from 28 days to 42 days, depending on the weaning practices of the
farm. A short lactating period for the sows would be advantageous in terms of
sows’ production efficiency. On the other hand, this practice requires more
care, attention and special feeding for the weaned piglets.

In the first few

days after farrowing,
the sow and its litter
should be observed
carefully for any disease
condition and
inadequate milk
production. Often
corrected measures
should be instituted.

Lactation is the
most demanding phase of the reproductive cycle, with significant energy being
required for milk production. Daily energy needs for lactation include energy
needs for maintenance and milk production, and these needs will often exceed
energy intake for at least part of the lactation period. If dietary energy intake is
not sufficient to meet these demands, body tissue will be mobilized to
provide nutrients for milk production, primarily from fat stores. Additionally,
genetically leaner sows may not have fat stores to mobilize and therefore may
catabolize body protein. If extensive catabolism takes place, this is detrimental
to short and long term sow productivity.

Sow lactation feed intake often is not enough during lactation to meet the
sow’s energy and nutrient needs for maintenance and milk production. These
sows subsequently mobilize their own body tissues to meet their energy and
nutrient needs.

Stage of lactation is another factor that determines the nutrient

requirements of sows during lactation. Under modern management, the
average lactation length in sows is around 21 days. Energy requirements
during this three-week period are much higher than during gestation, as the
metabolism of a lactating sow is much higher than that of a gestating sow.
Sows lose body reserves (measured as back fat and loin depth) during the first
two to three weeks of lactation to support milk production, and thereafter start
to recover the lost body reserves. Reducing the lactation length hampers this
recovery process.

Sufficient information on how to increase ovulation and embryo survival

rates has been presented so that if properly applied, sows will be producing
large litters. When litters are so large that the sow cannot adequately feed her
piglets, it becomes necessary to supplement the limited milk supply with a
creep ration of sufficient nutrient concentration. It is obvious that as the baby
pigs grow older, their feed requirement increases. The progressive increase in
demand of baby piglets against a decreasing supply of milk by the dam after
the peak of production has been reached, necessitates the giving of nutritious
and palatable creep. Sucklings can be given Pre-starter diets at 14 day old. The
feed must be highest quality. The aim is always to maintain maximum feed
intake.

In other words, sow care during gestation, farrowing and lactation is the
key to healthier piglets. When piglets have a strong start in life they are more
likely to thrive, develop quickly, and wean easily. Providing optimal care for the
sow will contribute to the best economic return from breeding. Piglets that
receive adequate nutrition during the first few weeks of life will grow quickly
and wean easily.