February 5, 2008

NADIS reports that UK sows have a dip in body condition
 

Winter has been fairly mild in UK but vets have observed a dip of physical condition in sows over the last two months.

According to National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS), the problem was caused by poor insulation in buildings, cut backs in feed levels to reduce costs, and a change of bed materials.

A report from NADIS said good quality barley straw is more palatable to sows, and provides more energy than wheat, a feed that is less palatable and contains far less energy.

NADIS adds that when bed materials and barley straw are not available for winter feed levels, feed provision must be increased to maintain physical condition of the sows in order to sustain sow productivity and litter quality at birth.