Pregnancy Feeding Management
Concentrates, roughage, and green feed should be properly balanced when feeding.Concentrates, and roughage should be ground to help pigs digest and absorb them. Whether feeding wet, unprocessed feed or mixing the ration with chopped green feed for pigs to eat freely, the feed should not be prepared with too much water. Pigs fed dry feed must be provided with enough drinking water. In autumn, water intake should be 4 times the amount of dry feed. Lactating sows especially must not be deprived of water, and the water should be clean.
Green feed must be combined with 40% concentrates. Alternatively, 10% glutinous rice bran can be added to the feed. Generally, feed concentrates first, then green feed, 4 times a day. Each feeding should ideally be finished within half an hour.
Daily management
Closely observe sows for signs of abortion. If a sow returns to estrus, move her out promptly to avoid unnecessary abortion caused by handling. If she has an injury, isolate her promptlyfor treatment; check whether periparturient sows show signs of farrowing; whether the drinkers have water; whether the equipment is operating normally; and whether the temperature and humidity in the barn are appropriate.
Mated sows awaiting pregnancy checks. This refers to sows at 1–3 weeks after mating. This is the period when fertilized eggs implant and embryonic organs form and differentiate. Strictly control the sows’ feed intake, at approximately 1.8–2.5 kilograms per day, and avoid moving them between pens frequently.
Early pregnancy. 22–88 days after mating. During this period, the sow’s daily feed ration should be 2–2.5 kilograms, with the aim of maintaining moderate body condition.
Late pregnancy. 89–107 days after mating. This is the period of the fastest fetal growth and development. The sow’s daily feed ration should be increased to 2.5–3 kilograms to ensure that the piglets are born large and healthy.
Peripartum period. From 108 days after mating until farrowing, the feed amount should be reduced gradually each day to lessen gastrointestinal pressure on the birth canal and ensure that the sow farrows normally.
Postpartum management
Low milk production in primiparous sows is mostly caused by underdeveloped mammary systems or low dietary nutrient levels. When a primiparous sow produces too little milk, take 1–2 fresh placentas, chop and cook them, mix them into the sow's feed, and feed in 2–3 portions.
Low milk production in multiparous sows is mostly secondary. The principles are to eliminate the underlying cause, adjust the diet, and provide more fresh, succulent forage. Huanghua, 200 grams, can be decocted in water, mixed with feed, and given once daily at 1 dose(s) per day for 3–5 days.
In obese sows, fat infiltration of the functional mammary tissue affects endocrine function and reduces milk production. Subcutaneous injection of prolactin may be used as the first choice, at 500–1000 international units per sow per injection, 1 times daily for 3 consecutive injections.
The main cause of low milk production in thin, weak sows is malnutrition. First check whether the nutritional composition of the feed meets feeding standard requirements, then check whether the sow hasparasitic diseasesor other wasting diseases. After removing the cause, restore the sow's condition through nutritional support.
Sows with insufficient milk can be given additional nutritious foods such as soy milk, placenta broth, and fish soup. Use 9 grams of Vaccaria seeds, 6 grams of pangolin scales, and 9 grams of Akebia stem; decoct in water and administer orally. Oxytocin may also be administered, orTreatmentProstate injection to promote lactation; generally, one injection is enough to see results.
Concentrates, roughage, and green feed should be properly balanced when feeding.Concentrates, and roughage should be ground to help pigs digest and absorb them. Whether feeding wet, unprocessed feed or mixing the ration with chopped green feed for pigs to eat freely, the feed should not be prepared with too much water. Pigs fed dry feed must be provided with enough drinking water. In autumn, water intake should be 4 times the amount of dry feed. Lactating sows especially must not be deprived of water, and the water should be clean.
Green feed must be combined with 40% concentrates. Alternatively, 10% glutinous rice bran can be added to the feed. Generally, feed concentrates first, then green feed, 4 times a day. Each feeding should ideally be finished within half an hour.
Daily management
Closely observe sows for signs of abortion. If a sow returns to estrus, move her out promptly to avoid unnecessary abortion caused by handling. If she has an injury, isolate her promptlyfor treatment; check whether periparturient sows show signs of farrowing; whether the drinkers have water; whether the equipment is operating normally; and whether the temperature and humidity in the barn are appropriate.
Mated sows awaiting pregnancy checks. This refers to sows at 1–3 weeks after mating. This is the period when fertilized eggs implant and embryonic organs form and differentiate. Strictly control the sows’ feed intake, at approximately 1.8–2.5 kilograms per day, and avoid moving them between pens frequently.
Early pregnancy. 22–88 days after mating. During this period, the sow’s daily feed ration should be 2–2.5 kilograms, with the aim of maintaining moderate body condition.
Late pregnancy. 89–107 days after mating. This is the period of the fastest fetal growth and development. The sow’s daily feed ration should be increased to 2.5–3 kilograms to ensure that the piglets are born large and healthy.
Peripartum period. From 108 days after mating until farrowing, the feed amount should be reduced gradually each day to lessen gastrointestinal pressure on the birth canal and ensure that the sow farrows normally.
Postpartum management
Low milk production in primiparous sows is mostly caused by underdeveloped mammary systems or low dietary nutrient levels. When a primiparous sow produces too little milk, take 1–2 fresh placentas, chop and cook them, mix them into the sow's feed, and feed in 2–3 portions.
Low milk production in multiparous sows is mostly secondary. The principles are to eliminate the underlying cause, adjust the diet, and provide more fresh, succulent forage. Huanghua, 200 grams, can be decocted in water, mixed with feed, and given once daily at 1 dose(s) per day for 3–5 days.
In obese sows, fat infiltration of the functional mammary tissue affects endocrine function and reduces milk production. Subcutaneous injection of prolactin may be used as the first choice, at 500–1000 international units per sow per injection, 1 times daily for 3 consecutive injections.
The main cause of low milk production in thin, weak sows is malnutrition. First check whether the nutritional composition of the feed meets feeding standard requirements, then check whether the sow hasparasitic diseasesor other wasting diseases. After removing the cause, restore the sow's condition through nutritional support.
Sows with insufficient milk can be given additional nutritious foods such as soy milk, placenta broth, and fish soup. Use 9 grams of Vaccaria seeds, 6 grams of pangolin scales, and 9 grams of Akebia stem; decoct in water and administer orally. Oxytocin may also be administered, orTreatmentProstate injection to promote lactation; generally, one injection is enough to see results.