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Care of Lactating Sows
Care of Lactating Sows
Care of Lactating Sows
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.
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.
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.