Feed Pigs Correctly – Even Before They Are Born
Sow : Sow Production
Feeding pigs is more of a marathon than a sprint.
The race to market weight can take nearly 200 days, and it all begins with a successful start. To successfully get piglets off to the best start possible, focus should be put on piglet growth prior to their birth, beginning with care given to the sow.
The piglet spends about 50 percent of its lifetime in and with the sow, so what we’re feeding in gestation and lactation can directly impact the long-term success of the pig. Postnatal growth may be largely pre-determined during fetal development.1
For enhanced pig performance, starting at birth, sows should be fed properly through all stages. Read on for industry advice and research on the impact of sow nutrition through fetal development.
Full-feeding sends positive messages to the balance of hormones in the sow. This can lead to greater ovulation rates and, perhaps, more robust follicles. Fine-tuning the ration during this period can lead to greater ovulation rates, more eggs fertilized and greater survival of early embryos.2
The sow’s first instinct is to reproduce, so she will allocate nutrients to the litter no matter the ration. “If a poor ration is provided, the sow will sacrifice her body condition and longevity to support the litter.
While the sow can produce a ‘normal’ looking litter on poor nutrition, health of the newborn piglet will be compromised by lack of nutrition during development. These issues can also lead to problems for the pigs later in life during the growing and finishing stages.3
Underfed sows during gestation also have less potential to develop complete and normal mammary tissue, resulting in reduced lactation performance.4
The key to early gestation feeding is a balanced ration. Under-conditioned sows may be unable to produce adequately sized piglets at birth, while over-conditioned sows can result in impaired mammary development, reduced feed intake during lactation and unnecessary ration costs.
Bump feeding continues to be a debated feeding strategy for the third trimester, with studies showing variation in the benefits. If opting to bump feed, increase first-litter gilts’ and under-conditioned sows’ rations by 1.1 to 2.2 pounds of feed per head per day beginning on day 90 of gestation.
This is a period when the fetuses are developing rapidly and the sow needs an increased supply of energy and nutrients to support their growth. This added nutrition is especially important for maximizing pig birth weights.
One study at the University of Alberta evaluated the postnatal growth performance and carcass quality of progeny from 248 sows (223 with two consecutive farrowings), monitoring production performance based on birth weights.7
The researchers found that pigs with lower birth weights had smaller average daily gains in the nursery and throughout the grow-finish phases, causing an increased spread in weight between heavier-born and lighter-born piglets through the entire growing period. Average daily feed intake was also lower in the lower birth weight piglets. All told, the lighter-born piglets needed nine additional days to reach the same slaughter weight as the heaver-born pigs.
Similar results were found in recent studies conducted by Iowa State University and Purina Animal Nutrition.8 These researchers evaluated birth weights at the Purina Animal Nutrition Center in Gray Summit, Mo., for several years, measuring birth weights on 2,456 litters over a 5-year timespan. The researchers found that a 1 pound difference in birth weight (3.1 pounds versus 2.1 pounds) resulted in twice the survival rate from birth to weaning.
Heavier-born pigs in this study were able to get off to a proper start and also reached weaning and market weights quicker; with 2.8 pound higher weaning weights. When looking at the timeline to finishing, pigs born between 3.1 and 3.5 pounds reached the marketable weight of 270 pounds, 7 days sooner than pigs with birth weights of 1.6 to 2 pounds.8
A pig’s birth weight sets the stage for the pig’s long-term performance potential. Birth weight can be impacted by the sow’s gestation diet. When we feed sows adequately through gestation, they are more capable of producing pigs that can reach their full potential, without sacrificing their own longevity.
1Foxcroft and Town. 2004. Adv. Pork Prod. 15: 269-279.
The race to market weight can take nearly 200 days, and it all begins with a successful start. To successfully get piglets off to the best start possible, focus should be put on piglet growth prior to their birth, beginning with care given to the sow.
The piglet spends about 50 percent of its lifetime in and with the sow, so what we’re feeding in gestation and lactation can directly impact the long-term success of the pig. Postnatal growth may be largely pre-determined during fetal development.1
For enhanced pig performance, starting at birth, sows should be fed properly through all stages. Read on for industry advice and research on the impact of sow nutrition through fetal development.
Pre-conception sow nutrition
Sow nutrition from weaning to breeding is where the success of the next litter begins. Nutrition during this period impacts the sow’s fertility. For benefits in fertility and beginning to rebuild body condition, full-feed sows from weaning to breeding.Full-feeding sends positive messages to the balance of hormones in the sow. This can lead to greater ovulation rates and, perhaps, more robust follicles. Fine-tuning the ration during this period can lead to greater ovulation rates, more eggs fertilized and greater survival of early embryos.2
First and second trimester sow nutrition
Once the sow is bred, the ration continues to be important for the early growth of her litter.The sow’s first instinct is to reproduce, so she will allocate nutrients to the litter no matter the ration. “If a poor ration is provided, the sow will sacrifice her body condition and longevity to support the litter.
While the sow can produce a ‘normal’ looking litter on poor nutrition, health of the newborn piglet will be compromised by lack of nutrition during development. These issues can also lead to problems for the pigs later in life during the growing and finishing stages.3
Underfed sows during gestation also have less potential to develop complete and normal mammary tissue, resulting in reduced lactation performance.4
The key to early gestation feeding is a balanced ration. Under-conditioned sows may be unable to produce adequately sized piglets at birth, while over-conditioned sows can result in impaired mammary development, reduced feed intake during lactation and unnecessary ration costs.
Third trimester sow nutrition
Gestation nutrients are most critical to fetal growth during the final third of gestation, with a large percentage of the pig’s placenta, heart, liver and gastro-intestinal tract forming during that time.5Bump feeding continues to be a debated feeding strategy for the third trimester, with studies showing variation in the benefits. If opting to bump feed, increase first-litter gilts’ and under-conditioned sows’ rations by 1.1 to 2.2 pounds of feed per head per day beginning on day 90 of gestation.
This is a period when the fetuses are developing rapidly and the sow needs an increased supply of energy and nutrients to support their growth. This added nutrition is especially important for maximizing pig birth weights.
Postnatal development
The nutrients provided to the sow pre-conception and through gestation can impact birth weights at farrowing – a number that plays a critical role in the future success of the litter. Lighter-born pigs may be developmentally disadvantaged, have a greater risk for pre-weaning mortality and, generally, have reduced growth rates and poorer feed efficiency.6Long-term impact of poor sow nutrition
The impact of poor nutrients provided during gestation is highlighted in several research studies.One study at the University of Alberta evaluated the postnatal growth performance and carcass quality of progeny from 248 sows (223 with two consecutive farrowings), monitoring production performance based on birth weights.7
The researchers found that pigs with lower birth weights had smaller average daily gains in the nursery and throughout the grow-finish phases, causing an increased spread in weight between heavier-born and lighter-born piglets through the entire growing period. Average daily feed intake was also lower in the lower birth weight piglets. All told, the lighter-born piglets needed nine additional days to reach the same slaughter weight as the heaver-born pigs.
Similar results were found in recent studies conducted by Iowa State University and Purina Animal Nutrition.8 These researchers evaluated birth weights at the Purina Animal Nutrition Center in Gray Summit, Mo., for several years, measuring birth weights on 2,456 litters over a 5-year timespan. The researchers found that a 1 pound difference in birth weight (3.1 pounds versus 2.1 pounds) resulted in twice the survival rate from birth to weaning.
Heavier-born pigs in this study were able to get off to a proper start and also reached weaning and market weights quicker; with 2.8 pound higher weaning weights. When looking at the timeline to finishing, pigs born between 3.1 and 3.5 pounds reached the marketable weight of 270 pounds, 7 days sooner than pigs with birth weights of 1.6 to 2 pounds.8
A pig’s birth weight sets the stage for the pig’s long-term performance potential. Birth weight can be impacted by the sow’s gestation diet. When we feed sows adequately through gestation, they are more capable of producing pigs that can reach their full potential, without sacrificing their own longevity.
1Foxcroft and Town. 2004. Adv. Pork Prod. 15: 269-279.
2Anne E. Deckert, DVM, MS; Catherine E. Dewey DVM, MSc, PhD; J. Joe Ford, PhD; Barbara E. Straw, DVM, PhD.. “The influence of the weaning-to-breeding interval on ovulation rate in parity-two sows.” http://www.aasv.org/shap/issues/v5n3/v5n3ppdf. 89.3 November 2013.
3McPherson, Ji, & Kim. 2004. J. Anim Sci 82: 2534-2540.
4McPherson, Ji, & Kim. 2004. J. Anim Sci 82: 2534-2540.
5McPherson, Ji, & Kim. 2004. J. Anim Sci 82: 2534-2540.
6Smit, M.N., Spencer, J.D., Almeida, F.R.C.L., Patterson, J.L., Chiarini-Garcia, H., Dyck, M.K., and Foxcroft, G.R. “Consequences of a low litter birth weight phenotype for postnatal lean growth performance and neonatal testicular morphology in the pig.” University of Alberta. Alberta, Edmonton, Alta. T6G 2P5, Canada. Journal of Animal Science: 20 Sept. 2013.
7Smit, M.N., Spencer, J.D., Almeida, F.R.C.L., Patterson, J.L., Chiarini-Garcia, H., Dyck, M.K., and Foxcroft, G.R. “Consequences of a low litter birth weight phenotype for postnatal lean growth performance and neonatal testicular morphology in the pig.” University of Alberta. Alberta, Edmonton, Alta. T6G 2P5, Canada. Journal of Animal Science: 20 Sept. 2013.
8De Rodas, Brenda and Gawain Willis. “Litter size and birth weight and its impact on long-term production.” Purina Animal Nutrition LLC Research Study, Purina Animal Nutrition Center. 2006-2012.
