What to Do If a Sow Loses Condition Severely? Causes and Solutions

Generally, it is quite normal for a sow after farrowing, but if the weight loss is severe, it can seriously affect the sow's health, which has caused many farmers great worry. So what should be done if a sow loses condition severely? What prevention methods are there? Let's take a look together with QinNong Wang.

1. Causes of Sow Weight Loss

There are many causes of sow weight loss, such as poor feed, improper feeding, poor nutritional balance in the feed, relatively single nutrition, poor pig house environment, and the sow being ill or having a poor appetite. All of these causes can lead to sow weight loss.

Generally speaking, sows will lose condition after farrowing; this is a normal physiological response, because after farrowing the sow not only has to carry out normal metabolism but also has to suckle piglets, and piglets need to be suckled for at least about one month after birth. A sow usually has 8-12 piglets per litter, so it has to secrete a large amount of milk every day, and without sufficient nutrition and feed, it will digest its own fat to convert into milk for suckling, so it will lose condition. However, if a lactating sow shows very severe weight loss, then something has gone wrong somewhere, and the feed nutrition, environment, and the sow itself should be checked promptly, and the problem dealt with as soon as it is found.

2. Harm of Severe Weight Loss

Sows have the role of breeding and suckling piglets, and their importance to a pig farm is easy to imagine. They are the foundation of whether a pig farm can continue to be profitable. If a sow loses condition severely during the postpartum lactation period, it will lead to low breeding ability in the future. If a sow is too thin and weak, it will cause slow estrus, poor ovulation, a low success rate of mating, and it is also prone to miscarriage or a smaller number of piglets born, reducing the economic value of the pig farm. As the saying goes, high-yielding like a sow; only after a well-developed sow is mated and gives birth to a very large number of piglets does this saying exist.

3. Protective Measures Against Weight Loss

Supplementing nutrition after farrowing is a key point, especially in the middle and late stages of pregnancy. Not only should the amount of feed be increased, but also nutrient-rich concentrated feed should be provided, and a balanced nutritional combination should be ensured. In addition, careful observation is also needed. If the sow is found to have a poor appetite, the cause should be found promptly and measures taken to solve it. In addition, attention should also be paid to the sanitary environment around the sow, which should be clean, hygienic, and dry.

The above is what QinNong Wang brings you on what to do if a sow loses condition severely. I believe everyone now knows the causes and harms of sow weight loss. When a sow is found to be losing condition, it should be dealt with promptly, and by no means should a moment of carelessness lead to later losses.