Key feeding and management techniques for sows during the preparation period before mating

  1. Use short-term flushing to restore the body condition of weaned sows as quickly as possible. For sows that begin feed restriction 3 days before weaning, do not feed on the day of weaning; from the second day after weaning until mating, increase the feeding amount to restore the sow's body condition as quickly as possible, raising the daily feed amount to 2.5-3 kg. After mating, immediately reduce it to 1.8 ~2 kg, and feed according to body condition. For sows that are excessively thin at weaning, feed need not be reduced after weaning; provide flushing promptly after weaning and increase the feeding amount so that they regain body condition as quickly as possible and come into estrus and mate in time. For sows that are in quite good condition or even overweight before weaning, feed less both before and after weaning, do not use short-term flushing after weaning, and increase exercise.

Pictured: sow

  2. Multiparous sows begin estrus and can be mated 2 ~5 days after weaning, and primiparous sows 3-7 days after weaning. Aborted sows are not mated at their first estrus; sows with inflammation of the reproductive tract are mated only after recovery. Mate 2-3 times per estrus. It is considered normal if more than 90% of sows come into estrus and are mated within 7 days after weaning.

  3. Strengthen management to promote estrus: sows that are excessively thin at weaning or sows after reproductive disorders often fail to come into estrus after weaning. Along with vaccination and antibiotic treatment, effective measures can be taken to promote estrus and mating. Methods such as supplemental feeding to induce estrus and group exercise for sows can be used. When the above methods are ineffective, hormones can be used to induce estrus.

  4. Cull unqualified sows and maintain a reasonable herd structure. The annual culling and replacement rate of breeding pigs is about 1/3. A reasonable parity structure for sows should be: 0-2 parities account for 35%-45%, 3-6 parities account for 45%-55%, and 7 or more parities account for less than 10%. Sows that do not come into estrus after estrus induction treatment after weaning, that fail to conceive after mating for three consecutive estrous cycles, that have endometritis that does not heal after two estrous cycles of drug treatment, that have produced fewer than 6 piglets per litter for multiple consecutive litters, that have poor lactation performance, or that have limb and hoof disease making walking difficult should be culled as early as possible.