31/08/2025
Low Milk Supply in Lactating Sows: Causes & Solutions 🐖
✨ Imagine this: Your gilt just farrowed 10 healthy piglets. At first, everything looks perfect—tiny squeals, active suckling, and a proud mama sow. But as days pass, you notice something troubling: the piglets look thinner, cry nonstop 😢, and fight each other just to get a sip of milk. By the end of the week, a couple of them can no longer keep up.
The truth? The sow’s milk isn’t enough to sustain the whole litter. Sadly, this happens more often than many farmers realize. Low milk production weakens piglets and quietly drains your profit 💸.
---
Why Some Sows Produce Little Milk ❌
🔸 Poor Nutrition – Sow not fed properly during gestation or after farrowing won’t have enough reserves.
🔸 Not Enough Water 💧 – Milk is ~80% water; dehydration reduces supply fast.
🔸 Stress Factors 🌡️🔊 – Heat, noise, overcrowding, or rough handling blocks milk letdown.
🔸 Illness 🩺 – Mastitis, fever, or infections drop milk yield quickly.
🔸 Too Many Piglets 👶 – Large litters can exceed milk supply, leaving some hungry.
---
How to Increase Milk Supply Fast ⚡
1️⃣ High-Quality Diet 🥣
16–18% protein feed
Energy sources like maize & small amounts of oil/fats
Protein supplements: soybean meal or GNC
2️⃣ Unlimited Fresh Water 💦
Lactating sow needs 15–20L/day
Any shortage = milk crash
3️⃣ Reduce Stress 🌬️
Keep pen cool, quiet & clean
Limit handling & disturbances
4️⃣ Check Sow Health 🩺
Watch for mastitis (hot/swollen teats) or fever
Call vet immediately if sick
5️⃣ Milk Boosters 🌿
Brewer’s yeast, soybean oil, herbal boosters (fenugreek)
Severe cases: vet may recommend oxytocin
---
If Piglets Are Already Hungry 😟
👉 Foster them to another lactating sow with fewer piglets. Quickest way to save weak piglets!
---
🐖 Remember: Well-fed, hydrated, stress-free sow = strong piglets & higher farm profit 💰