Possibilities for dealing with large litters of piglets

The aim of the first experiment was to verify the effectiveness and profitability of providing supplemental feed to piglets. The milk feed mixture of two producers (MFM-1 vs MFM-2) were evaluated (served ad libitum). All piglets were suckled and were fed with the pre-starter feed mixture from the 5th day until the weaning stage. The control group without milk supplements has shown a higher piglet mortality and worse body condition of sows. The usage of milk supplements led to the elimination of the sow body condition loss during the suckling period and reduced feed mixture consumption in sows (P<0.05). The MFM-1 group was found to have a higher consumption of milk supplements, the lowest mortality and the lowest loss of sow body condition (P<0.05). However, from the economic point of view, i.e. the costs on 1 weaned pig, slightly better results have been proven at the MFM-2 milk supplement. In the second experiment sows were divided into 2 groups. In the first group, the piglets were fed with milk substitute and in the second group, nurse sows (15% of the herd) were used. Nurse sows had a longer suckling period and farrowing interval, a slightly lower number of litters per sow per year and by 0.93 lower number weaning piglets per year. Using the milk substitute, generated a higher business profit per year than for nurse sows. However, the fact that nurse sows block the farrowing pen should be taken into account. In case that fewer sows were kept, business profit would be higher.