How to Choose Sow Feed? Methods and Key Points Explained
Sow reproduction can be divided into five stages: the replacement (gilt) stage, the weaning-to-empty stage, early pregnancy, late pregnancy, and lactation. The selection and control of feed in these five stages should vary according to the condition of the sow.
1. Replacement stage: Replacement gilts are in the stage of growth and development. High-quality, fully nutritious feed is crucial for the sow's body development and reproductive system development. For sows younger than 6 months of age, choose large-pig feed (commercially available complete pelleted expanded feed) mixed 1:1 with green feed, and let them eat freely. For sows from 6 months of age until before mating, choose commercially available complete pelleted empty-sow feed mixed 1:1 with green feed. During this stage, it is strictly forbidden to use cottonseed cake, rapeseed cake, or moldy feed, which are harmful to the reproductive system. Feed should be appropriately restricted to prevent the sow from becoming too fat, which would affect estrus and ovulation.
2. Weaning-to-empty stage: The empty stage refers to the period from normal weaning to before mating. After weaning, sows generally come into estrus and are mated in about one week. Improper selection and control of feed during this stage will affect the sow's reproductive cycle. Empty sows often experience weaning stress 1 to 3 days after weaning, which can easily cause mastitis, high fever, and other conditions. At this time, it is very important to control the daily feed amount in accordance with the fatness or thinness of the weaned sow. Feed twice a day, in fixed amounts, and never let them eat freely, which would cause the above conditions. The feed should also not be changed suddenly; choose commercially available large-pig feed or empty-sow feed, and within 3 days after weaning, gradually replace the lactation feed with empty-sow feed or large-pig feed. Appropriately increase laxative wheat bran and succulent, tender green feed.
3. Early pregnancy refers to the period from successful mating to 80 days of pregnancy.
Feed control during this stage promotes conception after mating and increases litter size. After mating, empty sows continue to be fed a restricted amount, at fixed times and fixed meals, with 2 to 2.5 kg per day being appropriate (depending on the sow's fat or thin body condition), and with an appropriate increase in green feed. After 20 days of feeding, gradually restore the sow's normal feed amount. Do not feed moldy, spoiled, frozen, or irritating feed to prevent miscarriage.
4. Late pregnancy refers to the period from 80 days of pregnancy to the delivery of the fetuses.
During this stage, the fetuses develop rapidly, and the need for calcium and nutrients increases rapidly. Poor feed selection can easily cause sow paralysis and weak, sickly piglets. This stage is what is commonly called "boosting the fetuses." The feed should be gradually switched to lactation feed, and bone broth should be appropriately fed; if conditions permit, dried fat or soybean oil can be added to the daily feed. The feeding method is fixed times and fixed meals, with fixed-amount intake, and 2.5 to 2.8 kg of feed per day is appropriate (depending on the sow's body condition).
5. Lactation refers to the stage from the sow's delivery to weaning.
The selection and control of feed during lactation is the most important part of the entire production process. The sow is not fed on the day of delivery; after delivery, feed some warm wheat bran soup + Shenghua Tang pills (3 to 5 pills per time) + brown sugar salt water, fed twice in a row, to promote the discharge of lochia and quickly restore physical strength. On the 2nd day after delivery, feed the sow about 1 kg of feed, then increase the feed by 0.5 kg each day, until normal feed intake is restored on days 4 to 5. If a certain nutrient in the diet is insufficient or excessive, it will affect the sow's feed intake. Do not excessively increase the concentration of a certain nutrient, so as to avoid nutritional imbalance. For example, the higher the energy concentration in the feed, the less the feed intake will be. While increasing the energy and protein concentration in the feed, attention should be paid to supplementing disease-resistance nutrients (immune nutrition Jianliyuan, reproductive nutrition Zaiduoduo, intestinal nutrition Changshengyuan). Wang Baihui