One of the topics discussed at the recent European Symposium on Porcine Health Management in Hannover was managing hyperprolific sows. Feeding is considered as the major factor in the reproductive management of the hyperprolific sow and new insights such as adding more fibre to sow diets during pregnancy and especially in the period prior to farrowing, have been shown to prevent constipation, increase water intake of the sow around parturition and increase milk intake and performance of piglets.
Feeding sows with a high fibre diet during
pregnancy, apart from being a beneficial feeding strategy from the welfare point
of view, also appears to increase the ad libitum feed intake during lactation.
This effect has been shown to be carried over to the average daily gain of
piglets, especially during the neonatal period.
High fibre diets fed before farrowing can also
have a beneficial affect on the duration of parturition; this might be worth
considering on farms with high levels of ‘stillbirths’.
Other beneficial effects relating to the use of
high fibre diets have also been reported. These include improved intestinal
immunity due to an increased mucin production as well as improved energy
utilization of the feed consumed.