What to Do If a Sow Has No Milk? Practical Milk-Letting Methods Shared
Sows, especially first-time sows, are prone to insufficient lactation during the nursing period. If the sow's udder is not full after farrowing, the piglets' hair coat is rough, and the piglets still nuzzle for milk after each nursing, while the sow lies flat or sits like a dog refusing to nurse, these are signs of insufficient milk. Attention should be paid to pig disease prevention and control in sow rearing. Let's take a look below at what to do if a sow has no milk!
Causes of sows having no milk
1. Nutritional factors: If a sow is overfed, it can also lead to reduced milk or no milk after farrowing. However, if the sow feed in late gestation is not nutritionally complete or the feeding amount is small, causing insufficient energy and protein in the body, no milk or reduced milk can also occur.
2. Physiological factors: Sows generally have low lactation capacity in the first litter, with the peak of lactation at litters 3 to 4, after which it gradually declines. If gilts are used too early, their bones and mammary glands are underdeveloped, leading to low lactation capacity after farrowing.
3. Pathological factors: If anti-inflammatory treatment is not strictly carried out at the time of farrowing, the occurrence of vaginitis, endometritis, postpartum fever, etc. can all lead to no milk or reduced milk in sows. An environment that is too hot or too cold can also cause changes in the sow's digestive function.
What to do if a sow has no milk?
1. Injection: Inject oxytocin or a prostate treatment injection to promote milk let-down, which takes effect immediately; generally one injection is enough.
2. Chinese herbal medicine: Wangbuliuxing (Vaccaria seed) 9 grams, pangolin scales 6 grams, Mutong (Akebia stem) 9 grams, decoct in water and feed.
3. Supplementary feeding: Some high-nutrient foods such as soy milk, millet porridge, afterbirth soup, and fish soup can be supplemented.
4. Environment: Ensure air circulation, fresh air, maintain hygiene, prevent dampness, and keep the pen dry.
How to promote lactation in sows with no milk?
1. First-time sows: Reduced milk in first-time sows is mostly caused by insufficient development of the lactation system or a low nutritional level in the daily ration. When reduced milk occurs in first-time sows, take 1 to 2 fresh afterbirths, chop them, cook them thoroughly, add them to the sow's feed, and feed in 2 to 3 portions.
2. Multiparous sows: Reduced milk in multiparous sows is mostly secondary. To promote lactation, the principle should be to eradicate the cause, adjust the daily ration, and feed more green, juicy feed. Use 200 grams of daylily, decoct in water, mix with feed and feed; 1 dose per day, for 3 to 5 consecutive days.
3. Obese sows: In obese sows, the parenchymal organs of the lactation system are infiltrated by fat, affecting endocrine function and reducing lactation. The preferred lactation-promoting method is hormone therapy, via subcutaneous injection of prolactin, 500 to 1000 international units per sow each time, once a day, for 3 consecutive times.
4. Thin and weak sows: The main cause of reduced milk in thin and weak sows is malnutrition. First check whether the nutritional composition of the feed meets the requirements of the feeding standard, then check whether they have parasitic diseases or other wasting diseases. After removing the cause, follow the principle of nourishing to restore the sow's constitution.