The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: danconfessed on April 14, 2014, 04:04:36 pm

Title: Milk Replacement
Post by: danconfessed on April 14, 2014, 04:04:36 pm

Hi all,

My lovely MW sow gave birth to 12 piglets Saturday PM. unfortunately she squashed one early Sunday AM so we are down to 11.  8 gilts and 3 boars.
Two of them are really small and not feeding very well.  Should i bottle feed them to give them a bit of a boost?  Where is the best/ quickest way for me to get this?

Thanks
Dan

Ps. im presuming full fat cows milk is a no no??

Title: Re: Milk Replacement
Post by: benkt on April 14, 2014, 04:34:11 pm

One summer we had a sow who farrowed in the middle of one of our rare heat waves and she was clearly struggling to stay hydrated and feed a big new litter. We topped up the smallest ones with bottles of goats milk and they did fine - only took a couple of bottles a day for maybe a week to sort them out. Do you have a local goatkeeper who might  be able to help out with a few spare litres?

Title: Re: Milk Replacement
Post by: oaklandspigs on April 14, 2014, 06:51:14 pm

yes you can use ewe milk replacer, or goats milk, but add a little veg oil, pig's milk is very high in fat and they need that to grow.  Little and often unfortunately is the answer !

Title: Re: Milk Replacement
Post by: Tudful Tamworths on April 16, 2014, 11:59:17 am

Try and get them lapping from a saucer asap. Much easier than bottle-feeding.
Ask your vet for some oxytocin to see if you can get the sow to let down more milk. You may find a neighbouring farmer will have some.
Best of luck.
Liz