I agree. I ferment the food for the feeders, boars, and the sows. I know malnutrition can result from the fermentation process, so I’m thinking lactating sows need to go on non fermented feed. Fermentation is a new process for me so blaming the new behavior on that makes some sense. I have two sows due in the next two months. Hopefully no more cannibalism. The remaining five piglets are ok so far, though she is far from a doting mother. She doesn’t lay down to accommodate them, just stands at the shelter door. I think she is agitated by the isolation, but days old piglets in a herd never ends well, particularly with the wet cold weather we’re having lately. The researched reasons are diverse, this is her third litter. I’ve had to cull before because older sows seem to just get done reproducing and abandon the litter, but most times three times is ok, four not so much.
Discussion
Interesting. We soak our feed 24hrs, but don't ferment. And I'm sure you increase her feed as she gets close to farrowing. Bummer about the loss. Our Large Black is on her third farrow. This time we let her farrow in the woods with the boar in the same paddock. It worked well. Six survivors out of 9 born.
Good luck with the other girls.
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Thank you for the well wishes. Sometimes I wish there was a humane way to suspend mom from the ceiling for the first week. Eat, lactate, poop, nurse, but don’t move! 😊