The sow is not producing enough milk to feed the increasing litter sizes produced, so piglet growth is being limited. Improving the sow’s milk yield can help maximize piglet growth. This may be accomplished through improving mammary development. The main periods of development are from three months to puberty and the last third of gestation. Body condition has an impact on mammary development with 16 – 26 mm of back fat having normal development and 12 -15 mm back fat having underdeveloped mammary glands in a Yorkshire x Landrace cross. Producers need to ensure their gilt feeding program does not restrict too much feed and that feeding programs for gestating sows should be refined to allow for proper growth of mammary glands.
Got Milk – Mammary Research Yielding Results (full article)
