1, Pregnant Sows
In theory, pregnant sows now need 9-18 liters of water. Is a nipple drinker or a bowl drinker better? If using nipple drinkers, what should the flow rate and height be? These are things that those of us working on the front lines of pig farming need to know and test. If you manage drinking water well, you’ll find that your pigs will have fewer problems with constipation and fewer instances of yellow urine.
Taking nipple drinkers as an example, the usual flow rate is 2.0L/min, meaning 2 liters per minute. How can you measure it? Get a 2-liter soda bottle and hold it under the sow’s drinker to see whether it fills in one minute. If it fills, that’s OK. If not, adjust it right away. The usual height is 610-760mm; it is best if the pig can drink without having to tilt its head too far back. Water level controllers are now fairly popular and help save water.
2, Lactating Sows
Lactating sows drink 40 liters or more, because drinking more water is the only way to eat more feed. The more they eat, the more water they need, which allows them to produce more milk. The flow rate is also 2.0L/min, and the height is also 610-760mm, but we add another drinker at 350mm. You’ll find that your sows’ feed intake increases further. In other words, each farrowing crate has two nipple drinkers to provide the sow with enough water, whether she gets up to drink or drinks while lying down.
In theory, pregnant sows now need 9-18 liters of water. Is a nipple drinker or a bowl drinker better? If using nipple drinkers, what should the flow rate and height be? These are things that those of us working on the front lines of pig farming need to know and test. If you manage drinking water well, you’ll find that your pigs will have fewer problems with constipation and fewer instances of yellow urine.
Taking nipple drinkers as an example, the usual flow rate is 2.0L/min, meaning 2 liters per minute. How can you measure it? Get a 2-liter soda bottle and hold it under the sow’s drinker to see whether it fills in one minute. If it fills, that’s OK. If not, adjust it right away. The usual height is 610-760mm; it is best if the pig can drink without having to tilt its head too far back. Water level controllers are now fairly popular and help save water.
2, Lactating Sows
Lactating sows drink 40 liters or more, because drinking more water is the only way to eat more feed. The more they eat, the more water they need, which allows them to produce more milk. The flow rate is also 2.0L/min, and the height is also 610-760mm, but we add another drinker at 350mm. You’ll find that your sows’ feed intake increases further. In other words, each farrowing crate has two nipple drinkers to provide the sow with enough water, whether she gets up to drink or drinks while lying down.