Stotfold Feeding Scale
A gently rising feeding scale devised for lactating sows to encourage higher levels of feed intake resulting in
- heavier weaning weights
- better sow condition at weaning.
Litter weaning weights of 80 kg at 24 days are being achieved on the MLC Stotfold Pig Unit with sows fed to the scale. Similar weaning weights have also been achieved on farms in Northern Ireland using the feeding scale for lactating sows.
Scale in Practice
In practice the scale involves feeding all sows and gilts 2½ kg on the day of farrowing and increasing the amount fed each day by a maximum of ½ kg.
Increasing the amount fed by a small amount has the benefit of getting the sows used to eating more and therefore encouraging greater intake.
Feed levels are increased up to day 21 and maintained at that level thereafter. At day 10 after farrowing the scale used will vary depending on whether a sow or gilt is being fed and on the number of pigs being reared.
Stotfold Feeding Scale
Lactation Feed Scale
| First 10 days - All sows/gilts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | Kg | Fed | Notes | Tag No. |
| 1 | 2.5 | Total Feed: | ||
| 2 | 3.0 | Date Farrowed: | ||
| 3 | 3.5 | |||
| 4 | 4.0 | |||
| 5 | 4.5 | |||
| 6 | 5.0 | |||
| 7 | 5.5 | |||
| 8 | 6.0 | |||
| 9 | 6.5 | |||
| 10 | 7.0 |
| Gilt < 10 pigs | and | Sow < 9 pigs | Gilt 10 pigs | and | Sow 9 pigs | Gilt 11 pigs | and | Sow 10 pigs | Gilt 12 pigs | and | Sow 11 pigs | Gilt 13 pigs | and | Sow 12 pigs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | kg | Fed | Day | kg | Fed | Day | kg | Fed | Day | kg | Fed | Day | kg | Fed | ||||
| 11 | 7.0 | 11 | 7.5 | 11 | 7.5 | 11 | 7.5 | 11 | 7.5 | |||||||||
| 12 | 7.0 | 12 | 7.5 | 12 | 8.0 | 12 | 8.0 | 12 | 8.0 | |||||||||
| 13 | 7.5 | 13 | 8.0 | 13 | 8.5 | 13 | 8.5 | 13 | 8.5 | |||||||||
| 14 | 7.5 | 14 | 8.0 | 14 | 8.5 | 14 | 9.0 | 14 | 9.0 | |||||||||
| 15 | 8.0 | 15 | 8.5 | 15 | 9.0 | 15 | 9.5 | 15 | 9.5 | |||||||||
| 16 | 8.0 | 16 | 8.5 | 16 | 9.0 | 16 | 9.5 | 16 | 10.0 | |||||||||
| 17 | 8.5 | 17 | 9.0 | 17 | 9.5 | 17 | 10.0 | 17 | 10.5 | |||||||||
| 18 | 8.5 | 18 | 9.0 | 18 | 9.5 | 18 | 10.0 | 18 | 11.0 | |||||||||
| 19 | 9.0 | 19 | 9.5 | 19 | 10.0 | 19 | 10.5 | 19 | 11.0 | |||||||||
| 20 | 9.0 | 20 | 9.5 | 20 | 10.0 | 20 | 10.5 | 20 | 11.5 | |||||||||
| 21 | 9.5 | 21 | 10.0 | 21 | 10.5 | 21 | 11.0 | 21 | 11.5 | |||||||||
| 22 | 9.5 | 22 | 10.0 | 22 | 10.5 | 22 | 11.0 | 22 | 11.5 | |||||||||
| 23 | 9.5 | 23 | 10.0 | 23 | 10.5 | 23 | 11.0 | 23 | 11.5 | |||||||||
| 24 | 9.5 | 24 | 10.0 | 24 | 10.5 | 24 | 11.0 | 24 | 11.5 | |||||||||
| 25 | 9.5 | 25 | 10.0 | 25 | 10.5 | 25 | 11.0 | 25 | 11.5 | |||||||||
| 26 | 9.5 | 26 | 10.0 | 26 | 10.5 | 26 | 11.0 | 26 | 11.5 | |||||||||
| 27 | 9.5 | 27 | 10.0 | 27 | 10.5 | 27 | 11.0 | 27 | 11.5 | |||||||||
| 28 | 9.5 | 28 | 10.0 | 28 | 10.5 | 28 | 11.0 | 28 | 11.5 |