Feeding for high milk yield to maximise the number of nursing piglets
DanBred breeding animals comes with an extraordinary genetic potential for reproductive performance. Focussed attention to management and feeding during lactation has proven to support immediate piglet growth as well as improve lifetime productivity.
Correct feeding and water supply will increase productivity
| Size | Amount of feed |
| Below 1 mm | 50% |
| 1-2 mm | 35% |
| 2-3 mm | 12% |
| Above 3 mm | 3% |
Figure 1. Estimated daily gain at litter sizes of 10, 12 and 14 piglets weaned at 28 days.
Among one of the most important maternal breeding goals for the DanBred female is live piglets on day 5 or LP5. This breeding goal not only supports piglet liveability and viability but also the development of sow milking and rearing capacity.
Careful attention to water and feeding during lactation is vital to reach the full potential for maximising piglet growth. The greatest component in sow milk is water, and it is estimated a sow placed in the temperate climate zone needs a water intake of approximately 25-35 litres per day when milk production peaks (generally 3 weeks into lactation) (DPRC, 2010; DPRC, 2013).
Increasing water intake by optimising water flow, quality, placement and type of drinkers will have a positive effect on piglet growth and total litter gain (Fraser & Phillips, 1989). To ensure the targeted water intake is reached by the sows, it is recommended to have a minimum flow rate of at least 4 litres per minute (which should be checked regularly).
Feeding throughout lactation must ensure that weight loss does not exceed 5 % of the total sow body weight in order to reach optimum wean-to-service interval in subsequent litters (Thaker & Bilkei, 2005). Maintaining average body condition throughout lactation will furthermore impact the number of eggs developed, maximising the size of the following litter (DPRC, 2013).
To increase lactation consumption, it is recommended to feed at least 3-4 times per day throughout the entire lactation period. Additionally, coarse grinding of feed will help optimise stomach health (DPRC, 2013).
Milk yield is naturally increasing during early lactation, which why feed allowance should increase gradually with daily adjustments. The aim is to reach the maximum feed allowance by around day 16 when milk yield is starting to peak (DPRC, 2013).
Trials have shown a linear relationship between the number of piglets with the sow and milk yield. A larger number of piglets with the sow will give a stronger stimulation of the udder resulting in a greater milk yield and result in subsequent litter weight gain. This highlights the importance of letting as many piglets as possible nurse with each sow (Hansen et. al, 2016). Optimising the equipment to match both sow and litter size is highly recommended, as piglet gain is closely linked to the accessibility of the udder when the sow lays down (DPRC, 2013).
The optimal ambient temperature for sows in lactation is 15-20∘C whereas the piglets need a temperature around 32-36∘C. A compromise between the recommendations is therefore needed to optimise both the sow and piglets' needs.