Reducing sow culling rates and extending sow lifespan – The hidden value of compound premix feed for sows
Publish Time: 2025-09-01
In modern pig farming, sows are the core productive asset of a pig farm. Their reproductive efficiency and lifespan directly determine the farm's economic profitability. However, in many farms, sows are often forced to be culled prematurely after only three or four parities due to reproductive problems, limb and hoof diseases, decreased feed intake, or body condition. This not only increases the cost of introducing and raising replacement gilts but also seriously impacts the overall production stability of the herd. Extending sow lifespan and reducing abnormal culling rates have become key issues in improving pig farm profitability. Compound premix feed for sows is playing a long-overlooked yet crucial role in this process.1. Common Reasons for Sow Culling: Nutritional Imbalance is a Major FactorThere are many reasons for premature sow culling, including reproductive problems (such as anestrus and repeated infertility), mastitis and metritis, severe constipation, limb and hoof injuries, low litter size, and poor lactation. While management, disease outbreaks, and environmental factors cannot be ignored, long-term imbalanced nutrient supply is the root cause of many problems. For example, an imbalance in the calcium-phosphorus ratio leads to osteoporosis and hoof cracks; vitamin E and selenium deficiencies affect immunity and reproductive performance; and amino acid imbalances lead to slow recovery and delayed estrus after weaning. Without precise control in standard complete feeds, these problems can easily accumulate and escalate in multi-parity sows, ultimately leading to culling.2. Compound Premix Feed: The "Core Engine" of Precision NutritionCompound premix feed for sows is not a common additive; rather, it is a highly concentrated nutritional supplement composed of dozens of ingredients, including vitamins, trace elements, amino acids, enzymes, organic acids, antioxidants, and immune enhancers, carefully formulated in scientific proportions. It is typically added to the base diet at a rate of 1%, 4%, or 5%. Although a small percentage, it determines the "nutrient quality ceiling" of the feed. The core value of high-quality compound premix lies in "precision" and "synergy." It dynamically adjusts the ratio of key nutrients based on the nutritional needs of sows at different physiological stages (reserved, pregnant, lactating, and weaning). This precise, phased supply maintains optimal physiological function for sows over time, fundamentally reducing culling due to nutritional deficiencies.3. Extending the lifespan of sows: From "culling after three parities" to "culling after six or more parities"Sows that consume high-quality compound premixes over a long period of time tend to exhibit greater reproductive endurance. They have stronger bones, reduced limb and hoof diseases, more stable immunity, and a lower risk of metritis and mastitis. They recover faster, and their estrus rate within seven days of weaning is significantly increased. These advantages are particularly pronounced after multiple parities. Research shows that farms that use compound premixes effectively can extend the average lifespan of sows by 1.5–2 parities and reduce the culling rate by over 20%. Taking a farm with 1,000 sows as an example, if each sow produces 1.5 more litters, assuming 12 piglets per litter, the additional piglet production could exceed 18,000, representing significant economic benefits.4. Hidden Value: Reducing Hidden Costs and Improving Overall EfficiencyThe value of compound premix feed lies not only in extending sow lifespan, but also in its hidden benefits of reducing costs and increasing efficiency:Reduced pharmaceutical costs: Sows with balanced nutrition have stronger immunity, significantly reducing antibiotic and treatment costs;Improved piglet survival rate: Sows with sufficient milk and good maternal behavior produce piglets with higher weaning weights and survival rates;Stabilized herd structure: Reduced disease risks and population fluctuations associated with frequent introductions.Although compound premix feed for sows does not directly produce piglets, it is a key component supporting efficient and long-lived sow production. Through scientific nutritional design, it prevents disease at the source, improves reproductive performance, and delays aging, truly achieving the goal of "raising a good sow for more healthy piglets." As the pig farming industry moves towards refinement and efficiency, paying attention to the invisible value of compound premix feed is to lay the most solid foundation for the sustainable development of pig farms.
