How to Increase Milk Production in Sows? Introduction to Practical Methods

As the scale and frequency of production on farms continue to rise, many sows give birth to a whole litter at a time, with nearly ten piglets per litter. For the sow, the first few days are fine, but as time goes on, the milk production of many sows cannot keep up and will decline, affecting production. This is also a headache for many breeders. So below, Shuashuai will explain how to increase milk production in sows!

I. The Pattern of Milk Production in Sows

Sows generally produce milk only after giving birth; only after farrowing will the sow's udder secrete milk. However, after about twenty days, the sow's milk yield drops greatly. Colostrum is the milk secreted by the sow within three days; at this time the protein content of the milk is the highest, and the immunoglobulin content is very high. Milk after more than three days is regular milk, and the protein content in regular milk is only 27 percent of that in colostrum. There is also a pattern: the milk yield from the teats near the sow's udder is greater than that from the teats further back. In addition, sows produce more milk during the day than at night.

II. Dietary Management of Sows

A sow's milk production is also closely related to its usual diet, so we need to be somewhat particular about the feed. Anyone who has raised pigs has surely heard this saying: "This feed is good, you can smell the fishy smell, and the sow loves to eat it." So what does this saying mean? In fact, we generally supplement the crude protein in feed with fishmeal. Fishmeal has a relatively high protein content, and the amino acid types in the protein are very complete, with a relatively balanced ratio among the amino acids. Besides these, we should also supplement some feed with high water content, rich in vitamins and with good palatability, so that the pigs will have a better appetite when eating. It can also enhance gastrointestinal motility and promote the sow's gastrointestinal digestive function, so that it absorbs nutrients better and can produce more milk. When feeding the feed, be sure to go from little to more, slowly letting the pig adapt. It is forbidden to feed moldy and spoiled green fodder.

III. Classification-Based Milk Let-Down for Sows

For those with slightly better physique and sturdier sows, feed relatively less before farrowing, especially when increasing milk-inducing feed rich in high-quality protein and vitamins; feed more to thin and weak sows, and the feed intake of sows after farrowing can slowly catch up. For some relatively obese sows, their udder milk-secreting organs may be infiltrated by fat, which can greatly affect milk secretion and reduce the sow's milk yield. Therefore, the sow needs to be stimulated to let down milk; hormone-induced milk let-down can be used by injecting prolactin subcutaneously once a day for three consecutive days. For some sows with a relatively thin and weak physique, low milk production is simply caused by malnutrition. For malnutrition, check whether there are parasites in the belly; if there are none, then consider improving the feed.

The above are the methods for increasing milk production in sows. Did you learn anything? I hope this article can help you.