Piglets that are not actively massaging the udder and thereby stimulating the release of prolactin leads to:
Premature cessation of milk production
Irregular return to oestrus
Strong, active piglets will stimulate the sow to produce the maximum amount of milk.
Oral application of an anti-inflammatory agent: Less stress and improved animal welfare
Research at the LfULG Kollitsch showed:
Anti-inflammatory agents, when applied orally and at the right moment will result in
Lower (normal) body-temperature of the sow
Better feed-intake of the sow
7 % less pre-weaning losses and higher weaning weights
Progesterone in the uterus blocks milk production. Only when the birth process is complete and the after-births have been delivered does this blocker stop.
Prolactin is important, especially in the last third of gestation, for proper udder-development. Furthermore prolactin is the main milk-promoting hormone during lactation.
Be aware of endotoxins and inflammations in the sow! Endotoxins i.e E.coli endotoxins and inflammatory processes inhibit these milk-hormones.
Inflammation of specific udder segments can occur at any stage during the lactation.
When milk-release is impaired by mastitis in one or more udder segments, there is the threat that FIL (a protein) will be released: when the concentration of this protein in the udder milk in creases, milk production is suppressed and eventually milk flow will stop.
GERMANY - Prof. Hans Nauwynck, Prof. Joaquim Segalés, Danja Wiederkehr together and Dr. Xaver Sidler are the first ever winners of the European PCV2 Research Award
At the start of life every single gram of bodyweight counts:
110 g higher start weight...
...means in this farm a 620g higher weaning weight
Get the latest news on Swine Health Subscribe to our newsletter