Key Technical Points for Feeding and Management of Farrowing Sows
Management of Farrowing Sows
Effective farrowing house management is the key to a successful pig farm. This is because the greatest losses on a pig farm are likely to occur in the farrowing house or the nursery, and the quality of piglet rearing in the nursery depends to a large extent on the quality of the weaned piglets provided by the farrowing house. The farrowing house has the highest grade of equipment invested and the best personnel.
The efficiency of the farrowing house depends on the condition of the sows and the joint efforts of the manager and the stockpersons. The goal at this stage is to increase piglet survival rate, the number weaned per litter, and litter weight; to maintain the breeding condition of the sows and extend their useful lifespan.
I. Pre-farrowing Work
1. Thoroughly wash out the pig house, disinfect it thoroughly, and let it dry.
2. Check the condition of all facilities and repair any damage promptly.
3. Wash off dirt from the pig's body, especially the rear quarters, udder, hooves, and legs - the areas that piglets come into contact with. After washing, disinfect with diluted iodine tincture or other disinfectants.
4. Move the washed sows to the farrowing crates 3-5 days in advance so they can adapt to the new environment. Be patient when moving pigs; do not be rough, and be careful to avoid injuring the sows or causing abortion.
5. Sow observation: at each feeding, make the sow stand up and observe her feed intake. Any abnormal condition may indicate that farrowing is imminent or that she is under stress.
① Check the sow's feces to avoid constipation, because constipation can lead to difficulty in farrowing and affect lactation. If constipation occurs, add sodium sulfate laxative to the feed.
② Install the heat lamp.
Keep the farrowing crate clean; remove feces immediately from the crate.
II. Farrowing Assistance Procedures
1. Signs of imminent farrowing: after sows due to farrow are moved to the farrowing crates, observe them carefully every day. Generally, 24 hours before farrowing, the sow shows restlessness, frequent urination and defecation, reduced feed intake or refusal to eat, and frequent turning; milk can be squeezed from the teats. When milk can be squeezed from the last pair of teats, farrowing will occur in about 6 hours; at this time the respiratory rate increases to 90 breaths/minute, and when it drops to 70, farrowing begins.Liquid flows from the vulva.- Water breaking indicates imminent farrowing.
2. Preparation for farrowing assistance: prepare tooth clippers, ear notchers, thread, syringes and needles, the needed medicines (oxytocin, iodine tincture, etc.), heat lamps, and clean towels, burlap sacks, and other items ready for assisting the birth.
3. Assisting the birth: after the piglet is delivered, immediately use a towel to wipe clean the amniotic fluid and membranes from its mouth, nose, and body. Snip the umbilical cord, apply iodine tincture, and clip off the 8 needle teeth (be careful to hold the tooth clippers flat and clip the teeth evenly, to prevent uneven teeth from injuring the sow's udder), then place the piglet in a heat preservation box lined with burlap sacks. After it regains strength, take it to the sow's teat and help it suckle. If a piglet appears stillborn (with slight pulsation at the base of the umbilical cord), rescue it immediately.
4. After the piglet has consumed colostrum, inject iron supplement, dock the tail, notch the ears, and apply iodine tincture to the wounds.
5. If a long interval passes and the next piglet still has not been expelled, inject oxytocin intramuscularly. If after the injection the sow strains frequently but cannot expel the piglet for a long time, consider manual assistance. Before assisting, cut the fingernails short, wash and disinfect the arms thoroughly. Keep the fingers together and slowly insert the hand to pull out the piglet.
Precautions: 1. Before the piglets suckle, squeeze out a few drops of milk from the sow's teats.
2. Inject iron dextran into the inner side of the neck, inserting the needle into the muscle. Pull the skin taut when inserting the needle, and release it after injection to prevent the iron supplement from flowing back out.
3. For apparently stillborn piglets, pat them a few times, or regularly squeeze the umbilical blood toward the abdomen, or perform artificial respiration. Persistence in rescue efforts is essential; unless death is confirmed, do not stop.
4. The umbilical cord should be left 3-4 cm long; if it still bleeds after snipping, tie it off with thread.
5. Do not injure the gums when clipping teeth.
6. To prevent tail-biting incidents, dock the tail 2-3 cm from the base of the tail. For boars, dock at the upper edge of the scrotum; for sows, at the upper edge of the vulva.
7. At birth, the temperature under the heat lamp in the box should be controlled between 33 and 35 degrees. This can quickly dry the piglets and help them regain strength.
8. Within 8 hours after farrowing, inject penicillin and streptomycin once. If there is inflammation, continue for three more days and add dexamethasone. If it does not improve, uterine flushing is needed.
9. Farrowing sows should be kept as quiet as possible to avoid interrupting farrowing.
III. Care of Suckling Piglets
1. Newborn piglets are very sensitive to external temperature changes. Their own thermoregulatory function is incomplete, they have little subcutaneous fat, and they lose much heat, so maintaining a certain environmental temperature is most important. At birth, the minimum temperature in the heat preservation box should be 33°C, and it can be lowered by 1-2°C each week thereafter.
2. Although piglets can obtain large amounts of antibodies from the colostrum secreted by the sow, their resistance to pathogenic microorganisms is still very weak, so keeping the farrowing crate clean is very important.
3. Piglets obtain the nutrition for their own development from the sow's milk, so it is necessary to ensure an adequate supply of milk of good quality and quantity.
4. Piglets within one week of birth have weak mobility and stress resistance, so attention should be paid to the following issues:
① Whether they are stepped on by the sow or crushed when the sow lies down. ② Whether they can suckle promptly when the sow nurses; those separated from the group should be picked up and placed beside the sow's teats. ③ Fix teat positions so that the smaller piglets get the front teats. ④ Piglets that cannot find the heat preservation box should be picked up and placed back in it.
5. Cross-fostering
Cross-fostering is necessary when a sow's litter size is too large or too small; when the sow has no milk, little milk, poor milk quality, or develops disease after farrowing; or when piglets are too small and cannot keep up with the weight of the litter. ① Cross-foster within 48 hours of birth, with farrowing dates close together, preferably no more than 2-3 days apart. ② Match body weights: transfer the small piglets from the earlier-farrowing litter out, and transfer the large piglets from the later-farrowing litter out. ③ Do not cross-foster piglets with infectious diseases to a healthy litter, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. ④ Smear the foster mother's milk, apply iodine tincture, and use other methods so that the foster mother cannot distinguish the odor of the fostered piglets, to prevent the piglets from being bitten by the foster mother.
6. Creep feeding
Start creep feeding at 5-7 days of age, and ensure the creep feeder is clean. Add fresh feed at least 3 times a day. Piglets eating a certain amount of creep feed can increase their growth rate and weaning weight; second, it can reduce the sow's nutrient depletion; third, it lays a foundation for weaning.
7. Castration
Castrate male piglets within one week of age. After castration, apply iodine tincture well to prevent wound infection.
8. All instruments must be cleaned and disinfected after use, ready for the next sow's farrowing.
9. Weaning
Piglets that have reached the weaning age should be weaned. Immunization should be completed before weaning.
IV. Care of Sows
1. Wash the sow 5-7 days before farrowing and move her to the farrowing crate to adapt to the environment, keeping her dry and clean.
2. After farrowing, force the sow to stand up to eat and recover her body condition.
3. Pay attention to protecting the sow's udder and teats, especially important for first-litter sows. Make full use of every teat.
4. For early weaning of sows with poor mothering ability, small litters, poor body condition, or poor lactation, merge their piglets together.
5. Add feed according to the schedule. Clean the feed trough once after each meal to prevent the sow from eating moldy feed. Keep good records. After weaning, the ideal body condition of a sow should be a score of 3; for sows in good condition before weaning, gradually reduce feed to prevent mastitis; for sows at a body condition score of 2 before weaning, do not reduce feed before or after weaning and allow free access to feed; sows at score 3 enter normal feeding - this prevents mastitis while allowing the sow to return to breeding as soon as possible. Sows at scores 1 and 2 must be fed up to score 3 before they can be bred.
6. Remove feces promptly; it is best to have a dedicated manure shovel for each pen.
7. Treat reproductive tract inflammation caused by farrowing promptly.
8. The temperature in the sow house should be controlled between 20-27°C. Heat stress can reduce feed intake, lower lactation capacity, and increase constipation.
9. Spray-disinfect the farrowing house once a week.
V. Feed Allowance Table for the Sow House
Allowance Gestation 0-20 days 21 days-83 days 84-100 days 100 days-110 days 110 days-farrowing Lactation Weaning Gilts
1.8 2.0-2.5 2.2-3.2 2.8-3.2 1.8 5.5 2.1-2.5 Parous sows
1.8 2.0-2.5 2.5-3.5 3.0-3.5 1.8 5.5 2.2-2.5 Feed No.
566 566 566 567 567 567 566 Times per day
11１12２１Remarks：
1. The above are averages; in practice, adjust the feed according to each sow's body weight so that she stays at the standard weight.
2. On the day of farrowing, the sow eats very little or not at all; from the 1st day after farrowing, increase the feed by 1.5 KG per day until reaching the maximum amount. This slow increase in feed can prevent the milk from becoming thick and spoiling.
3. Reduce feed by 2 kg per day for 2 days before weaning, and do not increase feed on the day of weaning, to prevent poor milk absorption after weaning that could lead to mastitis.
4. Start feeding piglets 550# from the 7th day after birth, adding fresh feed at least 3 times a day; feed that is not eaten should be disposed of, and the trough must be kept clean.
VI. Determination of Dystocia and Assistance at Farrowing
1. Symptoms of dystocia
(1) Prolonged gestation (gestation exceeding 116 days; the fetuses have partially or completely died, which generally has little effect on maintaining pregnancy. However, fetal death will delay the onset of normal farrowing), bloody discharge and meconium from the vulva, no straining or only slight straining without producing piglets.
(2) After the sow has produced 1-2 piglets, the piglets' body surfaces are dry and they are lively, yet the sow still has not produced piglets 1 hour later.
(3) The sow strains violently for a long time but cannot produce piglets.
2. Several situations of dystocia and their treatment
(1) Weak uterine contractions: mostly seen in sows with poor body condition and many piglets. Inject 20 units of oxytocin. Before injection, check that the cervix is open and that there is no blockage in the birth canal.
(2) Fetal blockage: mostly seen in fat sows. It is caused by oversized fetuses and fetal malformations. The treatment is assistance at farrowing.
(3) Vaginal blockage: caused by soft tissue injury of the birth canal, bladder distension (the sow can be moved off the farrowing crate to exercise for 10 minutes), constipation (an enema with soapy water can be used), or a tough vaginal fold (which can be broken by hand).
3. Assistance at farrowing
If the placenta does not come out or is insufficient in amount, and the sow remains lying down, seemingly with slight straining; also, if the sow strains for a long time without producing piglets. (1) Clean the rear area of the sow before assisting.
(2) Cut the fingernails short, clean the arms, disinfect them, and apply soapy water.
(3) Form the hand into a cone shape and insert it into the vulva, advancing between contractions; the hand only needs to reach the cervix.
(4) Pull the piglet out as the sow strains.
(5) Treat with penicillin to prevent infection.
Weaning Procedure
The goal of the weaning procedure is to minimize stress on sows, piglets, and staff through a correct schedule. Below is a typical weaning procedure:
- Remove the weaned piglets first, then remove the sows.
- Quietly move the sows to the breeding area or the culling area.
- Pens in the breeding house should allow the sows to see, smell, and hear the boar, preferably with nose-to-nose contact.
- When feeding in pens with slatted or solid concrete floors, the house temperature should be kept at 20°C; with straw bedding, the house temperature can drop to 15°C.
The following points apply to group-housing systems:：
- Each sow needs a minimum of 2 sq m of pen space; reducing stress and providing comfortable pens helps shorten the weaning-to-breeding interval.
- At weaning, group sows by body size and body condition.
- Feeding one boar together with weaned sows in the same pen for 1-2 days helps group formation.
When mixing groups, the pen should have a place of refuge.
Feeding After Weaning
The purpose of feeding sows after weaning is to make the sow produce as many healthy eggs as possible. A high level of feeding can produce more healthy eggs, so weaned sows should be fed freely; wet mash will help increase feed intake.
Free feeding of weaned sows can also help sows in poor body condition (especially first-litter sows) regain condition and help stimulate estrus.
To end lactation, there is no need to restrict feeding after weaning.
When weaned sows enter the breeding house, inject multivitamins (A, D, E). On farms with problems in the weaning-to-breeding interval, 200 g of glucose can be supplied daily from 7 days before weaning until breeding.
Stimulating Estrus and Breeding
Some of the principles in Part 2 and in the manual on artificial insemination also apply to weaned sows.
Contact with a boar helps weaned sows show the standing reflex. Sows in individual pens come into estrus easily, while group-housed sows can shorten the weaning-to-breeding interval and increase the pregnancy rate. However, feeding in unsuitable pens can easily cause injuries.
Sows in individual pens should be able to see the boar, and estrus should be checked daily after weaning. From the 4th day after weaning until breeding, sows should be regularly moved into the boar pen to have contact with the boar.
- For each group of sows, an adult boar should be used to check for signs of estrus. Swapping the pens of sows and boars can improve the boar's effect on the sows, so that each pen of sows can come into contact with two boars. Habituation is not a problem for weaned sows.
—
If sows show estrus within 4 days after weaning, it is necessary to move the sows into the boar pen for contact with the boar every day starting from weaning.
--------------------------------------
Very good...........Thank you
--------------------------------------
Resource sharing, sharing resources
--------------------------------------
Thank you, I learned something
。。。。。。。。。。
--------------------------------------
Good.........studying......................
luckyhl added the following content on 2009-5-28 14:37
Good.........studying......................
luckyhl added the following content on 2009-5-28 14:37
Good.........studying......................
--------------------------------------
Good resource sharing. Haha
--------------------------------------
Thanks to the original poster
--------------------------------------
If sows show estrus within 4 days after weaning, it is necessary to move the sows into the boar pen for contact with the boar every day starting from weaning.
Isn't it normal for estrus to appear within 4 days? Why move the sows into the boar pen for contact with the boar every day starting from weaning???
--------------------------------------
Very good resource, useful, I learned something
The efficiency of the farrowing house depends on the condition of the sows and the joint efforts of the manager and the stockpersons. The goal at this stage is to increase piglet survival rate, the number weaned per litter, and litter weight; to maintain the breeding condition of the sows and extend their useful lifespan.
I. Pre-farrowing Work
1. Thoroughly wash out the pig house, disinfect it thoroughly, and let it dry.
2. Check the condition of all facilities and repair any damage promptly.
3. Wash off dirt from the pig's body, especially the rear quarters, udder, hooves, and legs - the areas that piglets come into contact with. After washing, disinfect with diluted iodine tincture or other disinfectants.
4. Move the washed sows to the farrowing crates 3-5 days in advance so they can adapt to the new environment. Be patient when moving pigs; do not be rough, and be careful to avoid injuring the sows or causing abortion.
5. Sow observation: at each feeding, make the sow stand up and observe her feed intake. Any abnormal condition may indicate that farrowing is imminent or that she is under stress.
① Check the sow's feces to avoid constipation, because constipation can lead to difficulty in farrowing and affect lactation. If constipation occurs, add sodium sulfate laxative to the feed.
② Install the heat lamp.
Keep the farrowing crate clean; remove feces immediately from the crate.
II. Farrowing Assistance Procedures
1. Signs of imminent farrowing: after sows due to farrow are moved to the farrowing crates, observe them carefully every day. Generally, 24 hours before farrowing, the sow shows restlessness, frequent urination and defecation, reduced feed intake or refusal to eat, and frequent turning; milk can be squeezed from the teats. When milk can be squeezed from the last pair of teats, farrowing will occur in about 6 hours; at this time the respiratory rate increases to 90 breaths/minute, and when it drops to 70, farrowing begins.Liquid flows from the vulva.- Water breaking indicates imminent farrowing.
2. Preparation for farrowing assistance: prepare tooth clippers, ear notchers, thread, syringes and needles, the needed medicines (oxytocin, iodine tincture, etc.), heat lamps, and clean towels, burlap sacks, and other items ready for assisting the birth.
3. Assisting the birth: after the piglet is delivered, immediately use a towel to wipe clean the amniotic fluid and membranes from its mouth, nose, and body. Snip the umbilical cord, apply iodine tincture, and clip off the 8 needle teeth (be careful to hold the tooth clippers flat and clip the teeth evenly, to prevent uneven teeth from injuring the sow's udder), then place the piglet in a heat preservation box lined with burlap sacks. After it regains strength, take it to the sow's teat and help it suckle. If a piglet appears stillborn (with slight pulsation at the base of the umbilical cord), rescue it immediately.
4. After the piglet has consumed colostrum, inject iron supplement, dock the tail, notch the ears, and apply iodine tincture to the wounds.
5. If a long interval passes and the next piglet still has not been expelled, inject oxytocin intramuscularly. If after the injection the sow strains frequently but cannot expel the piglet for a long time, consider manual assistance. Before assisting, cut the fingernails short, wash and disinfect the arms thoroughly. Keep the fingers together and slowly insert the hand to pull out the piglet.
Precautions: 1. Before the piglets suckle, squeeze out a few drops of milk from the sow's teats.
2. Inject iron dextran into the inner side of the neck, inserting the needle into the muscle. Pull the skin taut when inserting the needle, and release it after injection to prevent the iron supplement from flowing back out.
3. For apparently stillborn piglets, pat them a few times, or regularly squeeze the umbilical blood toward the abdomen, or perform artificial respiration. Persistence in rescue efforts is essential; unless death is confirmed, do not stop.
4. The umbilical cord should be left 3-4 cm long; if it still bleeds after snipping, tie it off with thread.
5. Do not injure the gums when clipping teeth.
6. To prevent tail-biting incidents, dock the tail 2-3 cm from the base of the tail. For boars, dock at the upper edge of the scrotum; for sows, at the upper edge of the vulva.
7. At birth, the temperature under the heat lamp in the box should be controlled between 33 and 35 degrees. This can quickly dry the piglets and help them regain strength.
8. Within 8 hours after farrowing, inject penicillin and streptomycin once. If there is inflammation, continue for three more days and add dexamethasone. If it does not improve, uterine flushing is needed.
9. Farrowing sows should be kept as quiet as possible to avoid interrupting farrowing.
III. Care of Suckling Piglets
1. Newborn piglets are very sensitive to external temperature changes. Their own thermoregulatory function is incomplete, they have little subcutaneous fat, and they lose much heat, so maintaining a certain environmental temperature is most important. At birth, the minimum temperature in the heat preservation box should be 33°C, and it can be lowered by 1-2°C each week thereafter.
2. Although piglets can obtain large amounts of antibodies from the colostrum secreted by the sow, their resistance to pathogenic microorganisms is still very weak, so keeping the farrowing crate clean is very important.
3. Piglets obtain the nutrition for their own development from the sow's milk, so it is necessary to ensure an adequate supply of milk of good quality and quantity.
4. Piglets within one week of birth have weak mobility and stress resistance, so attention should be paid to the following issues:
① Whether they are stepped on by the sow or crushed when the sow lies down. ② Whether they can suckle promptly when the sow nurses; those separated from the group should be picked up and placed beside the sow's teats. ③ Fix teat positions so that the smaller piglets get the front teats. ④ Piglets that cannot find the heat preservation box should be picked up and placed back in it.
5. Cross-fostering
Cross-fostering is necessary when a sow's litter size is too large or too small; when the sow has no milk, little milk, poor milk quality, or develops disease after farrowing; or when piglets are too small and cannot keep up with the weight of the litter. ① Cross-foster within 48 hours of birth, with farrowing dates close together, preferably no more than 2-3 days apart. ② Match body weights: transfer the small piglets from the earlier-farrowing litter out, and transfer the large piglets from the later-farrowing litter out. ③ Do not cross-foster piglets with infectious diseases to a healthy litter, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. ④ Smear the foster mother's milk, apply iodine tincture, and use other methods so that the foster mother cannot distinguish the odor of the fostered piglets, to prevent the piglets from being bitten by the foster mother.
6. Creep feeding
Start creep feeding at 5-7 days of age, and ensure the creep feeder is clean. Add fresh feed at least 3 times a day. Piglets eating a certain amount of creep feed can increase their growth rate and weaning weight; second, it can reduce the sow's nutrient depletion; third, it lays a foundation for weaning.
7. Castration
Castrate male piglets within one week of age. After castration, apply iodine tincture well to prevent wound infection.
8. All instruments must be cleaned and disinfected after use, ready for the next sow's farrowing.
9. Weaning
Piglets that have reached the weaning age should be weaned. Immunization should be completed before weaning.
IV. Care of Sows
1. Wash the sow 5-7 days before farrowing and move her to the farrowing crate to adapt to the environment, keeping her dry and clean.
2. After farrowing, force the sow to stand up to eat and recover her body condition.
3. Pay attention to protecting the sow's udder and teats, especially important for first-litter sows. Make full use of every teat.
4. For early weaning of sows with poor mothering ability, small litters, poor body condition, or poor lactation, merge their piglets together.
5. Add feed according to the schedule. Clean the feed trough once after each meal to prevent the sow from eating moldy feed. Keep good records. After weaning, the ideal body condition of a sow should be a score of 3; for sows in good condition before weaning, gradually reduce feed to prevent mastitis; for sows at a body condition score of 2 before weaning, do not reduce feed before or after weaning and allow free access to feed; sows at score 3 enter normal feeding - this prevents mastitis while allowing the sow to return to breeding as soon as possible. Sows at scores 1 and 2 must be fed up to score 3 before they can be bred.
6. Remove feces promptly; it is best to have a dedicated manure shovel for each pen.
7. Treat reproductive tract inflammation caused by farrowing promptly.
8. The temperature in the sow house should be controlled between 20-27°C. Heat stress can reduce feed intake, lower lactation capacity, and increase constipation.
9. Spray-disinfect the farrowing house once a week.
V. Feed Allowance Table for the Sow House
Allowance Gestation 0-20 days 21 days-83 days 84-100 days 100 days-110 days 110 days-farrowing Lactation Weaning Gilts
1.8 2.0-2.5 2.2-3.2 2.8-3.2 1.8 5.5 2.1-2.5 Parous sows
1.8 2.0-2.5 2.5-3.5 3.0-3.5 1.8 5.5 2.2-2.5 Feed No.
566 566 566 567 567 567 566 Times per day
11１12２１Remarks：
1. The above are averages; in practice, adjust the feed according to each sow's body weight so that she stays at the standard weight.
2. On the day of farrowing, the sow eats very little or not at all; from the 1st day after farrowing, increase the feed by 1.5 KG per day until reaching the maximum amount. This slow increase in feed can prevent the milk from becoming thick and spoiling.
3. Reduce feed by 2 kg per day for 2 days before weaning, and do not increase feed on the day of weaning, to prevent poor milk absorption after weaning that could lead to mastitis.
4. Start feeding piglets 550# from the 7th day after birth, adding fresh feed at least 3 times a day; feed that is not eaten should be disposed of, and the trough must be kept clean.
VI. Determination of Dystocia and Assistance at Farrowing
1. Symptoms of dystocia
(1) Prolonged gestation (gestation exceeding 116 days; the fetuses have partially or completely died, which generally has little effect on maintaining pregnancy. However, fetal death will delay the onset of normal farrowing), bloody discharge and meconium from the vulva, no straining or only slight straining without producing piglets.
(2) After the sow has produced 1-2 piglets, the piglets' body surfaces are dry and they are lively, yet the sow still has not produced piglets 1 hour later.
(3) The sow strains violently for a long time but cannot produce piglets.
2. Several situations of dystocia and their treatment
(1) Weak uterine contractions: mostly seen in sows with poor body condition and many piglets. Inject 20 units of oxytocin. Before injection, check that the cervix is open and that there is no blockage in the birth canal.
(2) Fetal blockage: mostly seen in fat sows. It is caused by oversized fetuses and fetal malformations. The treatment is assistance at farrowing.
(3) Vaginal blockage: caused by soft tissue injury of the birth canal, bladder distension (the sow can be moved off the farrowing crate to exercise for 10 minutes), constipation (an enema with soapy water can be used), or a tough vaginal fold (which can be broken by hand).
3. Assistance at farrowing
If the placenta does not come out or is insufficient in amount, and the sow remains lying down, seemingly with slight straining; also, if the sow strains for a long time without producing piglets. (1) Clean the rear area of the sow before assisting.
(2) Cut the fingernails short, clean the arms, disinfect them, and apply soapy water.
(3) Form the hand into a cone shape and insert it into the vulva, advancing between contractions; the hand only needs to reach the cervix.
(4) Pull the piglet out as the sow strains.
(5) Treat with penicillin to prevent infection.
Weaning Procedure
The goal of the weaning procedure is to minimize stress on sows, piglets, and staff through a correct schedule. Below is a typical weaning procedure:
- Remove the weaned piglets first, then remove the sows.
- Quietly move the sows to the breeding area or the culling area.
- Pens in the breeding house should allow the sows to see, smell, and hear the boar, preferably with nose-to-nose contact.
- When feeding in pens with slatted or solid concrete floors, the house temperature should be kept at 20°C; with straw bedding, the house temperature can drop to 15°C.
The following points apply to group-housing systems:：
- Each sow needs a minimum of 2 sq m of pen space; reducing stress and providing comfortable pens helps shorten the weaning-to-breeding interval.
- At weaning, group sows by body size and body condition.
- Feeding one boar together with weaned sows in the same pen for 1-2 days helps group formation.
When mixing groups, the pen should have a place of refuge.
Feeding After Weaning
The purpose of feeding sows after weaning is to make the sow produce as many healthy eggs as possible. A high level of feeding can produce more healthy eggs, so weaned sows should be fed freely; wet mash will help increase feed intake.
Free feeding of weaned sows can also help sows in poor body condition (especially first-litter sows) regain condition and help stimulate estrus.
To end lactation, there is no need to restrict feeding after weaning.
When weaned sows enter the breeding house, inject multivitamins (A, D, E). On farms with problems in the weaning-to-breeding interval, 200 g of glucose can be supplied daily from 7 days before weaning until breeding.
Stimulating Estrus and Breeding
Some of the principles in Part 2 and in the manual on artificial insemination also apply to weaned sows.
Contact with a boar helps weaned sows show the standing reflex. Sows in individual pens come into estrus easily, while group-housed sows can shorten the weaning-to-breeding interval and increase the pregnancy rate. However, feeding in unsuitable pens can easily cause injuries.
Sows in individual pens should be able to see the boar, and estrus should be checked daily after weaning. From the 4th day after weaning until breeding, sows should be regularly moved into the boar pen to have contact with the boar.
- For each group of sows, an adult boar should be used to check for signs of estrus. Swapping the pens of sows and boars can improve the boar's effect on the sows, so that each pen of sows can come into contact with two boars. Habituation is not a problem for weaned sows.
—
If sows show estrus within 4 days after weaning, it is necessary to move the sows into the boar pen for contact with the boar every day starting from weaning.
--------------------------------------
Very good...........Thank you
--------------------------------------
Resource sharing, sharing resources
--------------------------------------
Thank you, I learned something
。。。。。。。。。。
--------------------------------------
Good.........studying......................
luckyhl added the following content on 2009-5-28 14:37
Good.........studying......................
luckyhl added the following content on 2009-5-28 14:37
Good.........studying......................
--------------------------------------
Good resource sharing. Haha
--------------------------------------
Thanks to the original poster
--------------------------------------
If sows show estrus within 4 days after weaning, it is necessary to move the sows into the boar pen for contact with the boar every day starting from weaning.
Isn't it normal for estrus to appear within 4 days? Why move the sows into the boar pen for contact with the boar every day starting from weaning???
--------------------------------------
Very good resource, useful, I learned something