Page 2 of articles about lactation

Characteristics of thermal images of the mammary gland and of performance in sows differing in health status and parity

Thermography coupled with Artificial Intelligence systems can help identify and orient the diagnosis of symptomatic animals to prompt adequate reaction at the earliest time.

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Genetics-ReproductionAbstract

Does nursing behaviour of sows in loose-housing differ from that of sows in farrowing crates?

Shorter nursing duration and more nursing terminations by the sow were observed in loose housing than in farrowing crates.

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Genetics-ReproductionAbstract

Impact of birth weight and daily weight gain during suckling on the weight gain of weaning piglets

Piglets with 1.25 to 2.30kg BW and low weight gain during suckling presented a partial compensatory growth during the nursery phase.

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Figure 2. During the first days, providing creep feed starting day 4-5 has the function of stimulating the piglet's curiosity towards the feed, hence the guideline of very little quantity, as many times per day as possible.

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HealthArticle

Weaning without zinc oxide (1/3): Good weaning starts in the farrowing room

We spoke with Alberto Garcia (Inga Food SA, Spain) and Chretien Gielen (De Varkenspraktijk, The Netherlands), to discuss aspects related to weaning management and conditions.

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Facilities-Equipment Article

The new challenge of crate-free housing in farrowing

Europe is preparing to eliminate farrowing crates in the next few years... Are farmers ready? Will this benefit the sows? What about the piglets?

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NutritionAbstract

Fish oil in sow diets as a strategy to modify immune components in colostrum and milk

The n-3 fatty acids supplementation in gestation and lactation diets may affect colostrum and milk composition and the immune response.

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NutritionArticle

Milk supplementation in the farrowing room: an alternative strategy with hyperprolific sows?

A much higher percentage of piglets prefer milk supplement over creep feed. Here are the results of the latest studies on this subject.

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Figure 2. An example of group lactation pens where both sows and piglets can mix and interact. Source: mio1989.com

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ManagementArticle

Reducing the stress of weaning: is pre-weaning socialisation of piglets a strategy to consider?

Does co-mingling during lactation benefit piglets in the long term? See how socialisation influences pigs behaviour and physiology.

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Image 1. Time taken by the boar to detect gilts in heat after being introduced into the pen. P. English, 1986

Genetics-ReproductionArticle

Anestrus in gilts

Lack of estrus in gilts is a common cause for culling, which increases the need for gilts and the cost of gilts. Let's take a look a what causes anestrus:

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ManagementArticle

Practical fostering: a key step in maximizing the quantity and quality of pigs weaned

Put more piglets on than teats? When to start fostering? Am I cross fostering piglets too many times?

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Farrowing Facilities UFMG/ ICA – photo by Amanda Le

NutritionArticle

Improving sow feeding behaviour using feed flavour

How can we boost sow feed intake during lactation under heat stress conditions?

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NutritionArticle

Feeding behaviour and daily feed intake of sows during lactation under heat stress conditions

Sow feed intake pattern changes throughout the day depending on the season.

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Figure 1. Sow daily water intake 5 days before and 14 days after farrowing. The vertical lines indicate the 10 and 90 percentiles, and the points represent the averages. Day 0 is the day (from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.) that farrowing started. Source: Fraser & Phillips, 1989.

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NutritionArticle

The importance of water consumption for sows in lactation

During lactation ensuring the sow consumes enough water is essential, as well as maintaining the water:feed ratio needed to lessen weight loss in the sow and allow a greater daily gain in the piglets.

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Genetics-ReproductionAbstract

Effect of suckling intensity of primiparous sows on production performance during current and subsequent parities

Increased suckling intensity increased litter weight gain but reduced piglet ADG. Following lactations were not negatively affected by increased suckling intensity of the first lactation. Loss of sow body reserves was reduced for the second lactation.

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NutritionArticle

Feeding lactating sows: a farmer's experience achieving 39 weaned pigs per sow

How, when and why should feed be increased? what needs to be considered when drawing feed curves? first hand farmer experience from Can Ballau, answers these and other questions

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ManagementAbstract

Gradual weaning during an extended lactation period improves performance and behavior of pigs

Gradually weaned pigs performed better around transitions than abruptly weaned pigs and gradual weaning resulted in beneficial long-term effects on behavior.