04/08/2026
Feeding a pregnant sow correctly helps maximize the number of piglets that survive and are born healthy. However, the number of piglets is mostly determined by ovulation, genetics, breeding timing, and sow health. Restricting feed during pregnancy does not increase litter size.
Here are the key feeding points:
1. Maintain the right body condition
• Keep the sow in a moderate body condition (not too fat, not too thin).
• Overweight sows can have difficult farrowing.
• Thin sows may produce weaker piglets and less milk.
2. Feed according to pregnancy stage
• Days 0–30: Feed about 2.0–2.5 kg/day of a balanced gestation ration. Avoid sudden feed changes.
• Days 31–85: Feed 2.2–2.8 kg/day, depending on the sow’s body condition.
• Days 86–110: Increase gradually to 3.0–3.5 kg/day to support rapid fetal growth.
3. Provide enough protein
• Aim for 13–15% crude protein in the gestation diet.
• Good protein sources include soybean meal or well-processed whole soybeans.
4. Supply essential minerals and vitamins
• Use a quality premix.
• Ensure adequate calcium, phosphorus, salt, and trace minerals.
• Vitamins A, D, E, and selenium are especially important for reproduction and piglet health.
5. Provide clean water
• A pregnant sow should have unlimited access to clean water.
• She may drink 15–25 liters or more per day, especially in hot weather.
6. Avoid moldy feed
• Feed contaminated with mold or mycotoxins can reduce fertility, cause abortions, or produce weak piglets.
• Use a toxin binder if feed quality is uncertain.
7. Prevent constipation
• Include fiber sources such as wheat bran or rice bran.
• Constipation can make farrowing more difficult.
8. Reduce stress
• Avoid overcrowding, excessive heat, and rough handling.
• Stress during early pregnancy can increase embryo loss.
9. Deworm and vaccinate
• Follow a deworming and vaccination schedule recommended for your area before farrowing.
10. Do not underfeed to get more piglets
• This is a common myth.
• Underfeeding does not increase litter size and can lead to lower birth weights, fewer surviving piglets, and poorer milk production.
Since you already formulate your own pig feed with maize, soybean meal, rice bran, premix, lysine, methionine, enzymes, toxin binder, dicalcium phosphate, probiotics, and salt, you can produce an excellent gestation ration by balancing those ingredients appropriately.
If you’d like, I can also give you:
•  a 100 kg gestation feed formula using your available ingredients, and
•  a week-by-week feeding schedule from mating until farrowing.
