Detailed Explanation of Common Problems in Lactating Sows and Their Solutions
1. Sow fever management: The health status of sows before and after farrowing must be carefully observed and never taken lightly. If a sow develops a fever after farrowing, it will endanger the lives of the entire litter of piglets. When a sow has postpartum fever, it is strictly forbidden to use large doses of drugs such as analgin, because these drugs are extremely suppressive; after large-dose injection, they place excessive burden on the heart and can cause heart failure. Therefore, such drugs can cause sphincter spasm, resulting in breast swelling, inability to expel milk, and ultimately the death of both the sow and the piglets. A traditional method can be used to reduce fever: take 3000-5000 milliliters of warm water, with the water temperature lower than body temperature, add a little laundry detergent and dissolve it, and use a stomach tube to introduce it through the rectum. When a large amount of water flows out, it can carry heat out of the body. Combined with measures such as fluid replacement, good results can be achieved.
2. Sow feeding increase issue: A postpartum sow needs more than 5 kilograms of feed per day to meet the piglets' developmental requirements and reduce the sow's loss of body condition. The traditional practice is to increase feed from 84 days of late gestation, and the feed used is gestation sow feed. Foreign studies have shown that increasing feed at 84 days will lead to a reduction in the number of mammary gland cells in farrowing sows, affect mammary gland development, cause a decline in milk production, and result in lower weaning weight of piglets. The correct time to increase feed is preferably 95-100 days of late gestation, using "high-linoleic-acid fat powder for pigs" or lactating sow feed with added fat, to meet the fetus's rapid development needs and increase fetal birth weight.
3. The number of supplementary feedings for lactating sows affects sow feed intake: generally pig farms feed 2-3 times per day, but feeding lactating sows 4 times per day is best, especially in high-temperature seasons, and can increase daily feed intake by 1 kilogram. In addition, the drinking water volume of lactating sows significantly affects feed intake, with the formula as follows: water intake = 4.2 + 2.52 x feed intake (kg/day). Therefore, a drinker flow rate of 1-2 liters/second is relatively suitable. If the drinker flow rate is less than 1.0 liters/second, the sow is very likely to have insufficient daily water intake, failing to reach a daily water intake of 25-30 liters, and correspondingly reducing feed intake. Baking soda can be added to the diet at 0.6%-0.8%, and green feed should be increased.
4. Reduce non-productive days:
(1) Non-productive days refer to the days when any productive sow or gilt that has exceeded the suitable mating age (230 days) has not conceived or farrowed. Among these, the 3-6 day weaning-to-mating interval is a necessary non-productive period.
(2) Non-productive days arise from the days after a gilt's growth period exceeds 230 days, the days after the weaning-to-mating interval exceeds 6 days; days lost by repeat-breeding sows; days lost due to abortion; days lost due to empty gestation; and days lost due to death and culling. Non-productive days (NFD) = 365 - [average annual litters per head x (lactation days + gestation days)]. For example, if a sow is weaned at 28 days, produces 2.3 litters per year, and has a gestation period of 114 days, then non-productive days (NTD = 365 - [2.3 x (114 + 28)] = 39 days.
(3) Measures to reduce non-productive days: mate gilts in a timely manner, and mate as much as possible by 230 days of age; strengthen the feeding management of lactating sows to reduce the number of days from weaning to mating; mate repeat-breeding sows in a timely manner; detect empty sows as early as possible and take measures to promote estrus; and cull older sows in a timely manner.