Getting Sow Feeding Management Right Dr. James Pettigrew Pettigrew Consulting

Consider Self-Feeding for Sows
Whatever you can do to encourage lactating sows to eat more will help you "get it right" when it comes to sow feeding management, according to Dr. James Pettigrew. Pettigrew is a swine nutrition consultant and former professor at the University of Minnesota. He travels the world over to help swine producers plan and implement topnotch nutrition programs.

Pettigrew says that if producers can increase consumption, especially in young sows, litter size will grow and reproductive performance improves. He cites research by Dr. Frank Aherne at the University of Alberta that shows if feed consumption increases by 2.2 lbs. per day (from 10 to 12.2 lbs.) in first litter lactating sows the size of the next litter increases by one piglet. Energy intake also impacts weaning-to-estrus intervals, according to Pettigrew.

So what can you do to encourage intake?

Avoid Heat Stress
Heat stress is an appetite zapper that Pettigrew warns producers to take measures to avoid. Pettigrew recommends paying close attention to room temperatures and he suggests keeping sows on metal flooring materials that conduct heat away from sows. Adequate ventilation is a must, according to Pettigrew, and various types of cooling systems are also usually justifiable.

Feed often
Perhaps the area that producers can exert the most control over is in good feeding management. That means providing a well-designed feeder with a large pan, shaped for comfort for the sow and making sure sows have access to fresh feed several times throughout the day. When hand-feeding regimens are followed, Pettigrew recommends feeding a minimum of two times per day. However, he says three is better and he sees the benefits that some producers are reaping by feeding as many as five times per day. But having the labor to feed that often probably sounds unrealistic to many producers, given the shortage of skilled labor available.

That’s why feeding ad libitum or self-feeding may be just the ticket. According to Pettigrew, a specially designed self-feeder provides the same benefits as hand-feeding multiple times daily under the best management but better results than hand-feeding on most farms. The Farmweld LaborSaver Sow Feeder allows a sow to have control of her own eating, which means she has the opportunity to eat more. "It makes sense to allow a sow access to feed anytime she wants it," says Pettigrew. He says self-feeding is also a good idea for the obvious reason that it saves labor.

Other feeding considerations include making sure to provide an adequate water supply. Pettigrew recommends cup waterers for sows. He also states that wet-dry or wet feeders can be used successfully and, if managed properly, water can be added to the feed pan.

Provide proper diet
In addition to heat stress management and feeding management, Pettigrew stresses the importance of a well balanced diet for sows. He suggests a superior sow diet emphasizes the following: correct protein levels to ensure adequate intakes of amino acids; added fat, especially in hot weather; no fibrous feed materials; and no ingredients containing mycotoxins which can impair reproduction.

Follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to improve feed intake during lactation, which Pettigrew says is the best way to improve reproductive performance on most farms.

If you'd like to contact Dr. Pettigrew, you can write to him at: pettigrew@big-river.net.