27/08/2025
Low Milk Supply in Lactating Sows: What Causes It and How to Fix It FAST!Two weeks ago, a farmer shared a painful experience:Her sow farrowed 12 piglets, but by the 4th day, 5 were lost. The reason? The sow wasn’t producing enough milk. The remaining piglets were weak, crying nonstop, and fighting each other for every drop.Sadly, this happens on many farms.This is a serious issue because when sows don’t produce enough milk, piglets starve, become weak, and many are dead within days. Low milk supply is one of the silent profit drainers in pig farming!Why Does Low Milk Supply Happen?Here are the major causes:✔ Poor Sow Nutrition – If the sow wasn’t fed well during pregnancy or after farrowing, her body can’t produce enough milk.✔ Dehydration – Milk is 80% water! If your sow lacks water, milk drops drastically.✔ Stress – Heat, noise, or rough handling reduces milk letdown.✔ Sick Sow – Mastitis, fever, or infections can reduce milk production.✔ Too Many Piglets – When litter size is large, milk demand exceeds supply. How to Boost Milk Production FAST1️⃣ Feed High-Energy & Protein Diet:✔ Give lactating sows quality feed with 16–18% protein.✔ Include energy sources like maize and fat/oil in small amounts.✔ Add soybean meal or GNC for protein.2️⃣ Unlimited Clean Water:✔ A lactating sow needs 15–20 liters of water daily.✔ If water is scarce, milk production will crash!3️⃣ Reduce Stress:✔ Keep the pen cool, clean, and quiet.✔ Avoid unnecessary handling.4️⃣ Check Health:✔ Look for mastitis (swollen, hot teats) or fever.✔ If sick, call a vet immediately.5️⃣ Supplement with Galactagogues:✔ Add brewer’s yeast, soybean oil, or herbal milk boosters like fenugreek to the feed.✔ Some farmers also use oxytocin injection under vet guidance to stimulate milk letdown.✅ What If Piglets Are Already Hungry?✔ Foster Piglets to another sow if possible.✔ In extreme cases, use milk replacer or diluted evaporated milk to feed piglets.✔ Provide Creep Feed from 7–10 days old to reduce pressure on the sow.💡 Quick Tip: Start feeding your sow well during late pregnancy and after farrowing. Prevention is easier than losing a whole litter! Have you ever had this issue? How did you handle it? Share your experience in the comments, your tip could save another farmer’s piglets!Follow Olasfem farms for more helpful farming tips!
