What Should Sows Eat to Ovulate More? A Detailed Guide to Scientific Feeding Methods

When raising pigs, to achieve high pork production, besides mastering the relevant breeding techniques, it also depends on the reproductive performance of the sow. So what should sows eat to ovulate more?

1. What should sows eat to ovulate more?

Sows ovulate more when fed medicinal herbs such as Angelica sinensis (dong quai), Atractylodes macrocephala (bai zhu), Ligusticum chuanxiong (chuan xiong), Carthamus tinctorius (safflower), and Foeniculum vulgare (fennel). However, unless absolutely necessary, it is best not to use drugs to promote ovulation in sows, especially first-litter sows. Once drug dependence develops, it may very likely affect future estrus and pregnancy. For specific methods, consult a veterinarian.

2. What methods are there to stimulate estrus in sows?

1. Control body condition: For sows that are too fat, restrict feeding to reduce body condition, then stimulate estrus; for those too thin, increase the feeding amount to build them up.

2. Boar stimulation: Pen a sow that is not in estrus together with a boar, letting the boar chase and mount her to promote estrus.

3. Relocation stimulation: As the age of first estrus approaches, move the growing pigs in the pen to a different environment.

4. Group-housing stimulation: Raise replacement gilts in small groups, 10-20 per pen; after weaning, group-house sows, 6-8 per pen.

5. Exercise stimulation: Increase the sow's exercise, practice grazing, and let them out to eat green feed, which helps promote estrus in sows.

6. Drug stimulation: Inject pregnant mare serum gonadotropin or human chorionic gonadotropin. Or inject a triple hormone combination, which can make sows come into estrus and ovulate.

7. Udder massage: Massage the udder by hand, 1-2 times a day, about 10 minutes each time, for 5-6 consecutive days, and the sow will come into estrus.

8. Brown sugar stimulation: Take 0.5-1 kg of brown sugar, pour it into an iron pot and scorch it, then add 1.5-2 kg of water and boil, let it cool and mix it into the feed to feed the pigs. After feeding quickly for 3-5 days, sows that have long been not in estrus will begin to come into estrus.

9. Observe carefully: For some fine breeds of pigs, especially purebred pigs, estrus is not obvious. If you do not pay attention, it is possible to miss