TOP TIPS ▶▶▶


Tips regarding feeding sows during the wean to oestrus period


The period between weaning and oestrus is critical. Adequate feeding could smooth this period and improve reproductive performance.


BY SAMANEH AZARPAJOUH, INDEPENDENT RESEARCHER W 1 2


ean to oestrus interval is described as the number of days between weaning and the first day that standing heat is observed. This period is a critical time in a sow’s life which


underscores the need to breed newly weaned sows in a way that ensures their reproductive performance and maintains herd productivity. Due to high nutrient demands during lac- tation, sows may lose weight, which in turn can delay stand- ing heat, increase non-productive days, reduce longevity and compromise follicular quality. Adequate feeding during the wean to oestrus interval affects the speed with which sows return to oestrus after weaning, and allows optimal reproduc- tive performance. Following these five tips regarding feeding sows during the wean to oestrus period will improve their reproductive performance and thus overall herd profitability.


Consider specific nutrients rather than simply full feeding Many pig producers practice full feeding sows after weaning to recover body reserves lost in lactation


and to ensure optimal reproductive performance. However, full feeding sows in the immediate post-weaning period leads to feed wastage and higher feed costs and it hardly supports improvements in reproductive performance and thus offers no economic benefit to producers. It is recom- mended to supplement postweaning diet with simple sugars such as glucose and dextrose to provide sows with a carbohy- drate-rich diet to stimulate follicular development and folli- cular quality, which are induced by secretion of insulin and insulin growth factor.


Feed a high-quality diet When it comes to nutrition, the recipe for success includes everything that sows need including energy, protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins


and minerals. Without all these basic building blocks, sows cannot support their requirements for growth, maintenance and foetal growth. The potential consequences of feeding


a low-quality diet to the breeding herd include a decrease in conception rates, smaller litters and/or reduction in birth weight, lower milk production, an increase in wean to oestrus interval, and a shortened reproductive life.


3 4


5


Increase feeding frequency Feeding sows two or more times daily compared to once daily maintains feed freshness and promotes greater consumption. In addition, increasing sow


feeding frequency from once a day to two to three times per day may reduce the number of stillborn piglets and increase litter size at weaning.


Allow sows unlimited access to clean water Water is the most important nutrient for sows with- out which they will only survive for a short time.


Maintaining good water quality and unlimited easy access to clean water promotes greater feed consumption and results in healthier sows and thus increased production. If there is any doubt concerning the quality of the drinking water, samples need to be collected to analyse the water and verify that it is acceptable for sows. Many factors can affect the quality of wa- ter, including microbiological, physical and chemical factors.


Optimise sow comfort Sows are highly adaptable and will perform well within a range of temperatures called the thermo- neutral zone. The thermoneutral zone is a range of


ambient temperatures (approximately 13º – 24ºC) within which a pig can maintain a normal body temperature (39ºC) through control of heat loss. During the summer, sows should be kept cool in order to stimulate an increase in consumption of feed. The cooling system increases sow feed intake by 19.8% and reduces sow weight loss by 78%.


▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 30, No. 3, 2022 39


Feeding sows more often daily maintains feed freshness and promotes greater consumption.


PHOTO: BERT JANSEN


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44