Sow and piglet productivity improvement in the farrowing department using milk substitutes

Abstract

Modern pork production technology requires more piglets from sows to ensure the industry's profitability. The physiological reserve of sows' milk production at multiplicity above 14-18 piglets is often insufficient, which requires a constant search for ways to solve the problem of “hyperfertile sows”. The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of using milk replacers from different manufacturers in sow nests under conditions of multiple farrowings on the productivity and behaviour of suckling piglets and sow conditions. The experiment was conducted in 2023, with 36 sow nests in the farrowing shop and 513 suckling piglets. Nests with a litter of 13 or more were selected and three groups were formed. In the control group, piglets were raised without additional feeding with milk replacers. The group II piglets were fed with Alternative Milk Junior as a source of additional nutrition from 10 days of age until weaning. Piglets of group III received a Commercial Analogue of milk replacer. Group II was characterised by a higher survival rate – of 93.03% and, a higher live weight – of 7.84 kg, which led to higher values of average daily weight gain – 222.47 g. The nests of the II and III experimental groups (consuming milk replacer) were more aligned, which significantly outperformed the analogues of the control groups by 31.2% and 14.7%. Piglets of group II were in a calmer state and therefore spent the most time on rest – 60%, in contrast to animals of the control group – 50% and group II – 58%. Additional nutrition of piglets in the nests of “hyperfertile sows” reduces the load on sows during lactation allows to obtain animals in factory condition and reduces the number of unprofitable days. The practical significance of the experiment is to determine an effective milk replacer as a source of supplementary nutrition for suckling piglets in the nests of “hyperfertile” sows