Feeding hyperprolific sows to improve piglet vitality

17-10-2012 | Specials | Article

With 12 piglets per sow, the piglets already have to fight for milk – but sows can easily have litters larger than this. Photo: Bert Jansen

Litter size and numbers of weaned piglets from hyperprolific sows differ a lot. A reduction in young piglet mortality requires better sow feeding and management prior as well as post-farrowing. The introduction of very prolific sow lines in herds has led to a faster increase in litter size than in the number of weaned piglets. The difference results from an increased mortality rate in the farrowing unit. Over the 115 days of gestation nutrient requirement for in-utero litter growth is very lo