The Colostrum Conundrum - Can sows feed their bigger litters?

Sep 11, 2023

Sows have more piglets these days, but are they able to feed them all properly? The key is colostrum, the first food for piglets, crucial for their survival and growth.

Two decades ago, things were simpler. There were fewer piglets, so they probably got more colostrum. But with today's larger litter, each piglet might get a smaller share.

Now, to tackle this, some folks had a bright idea: increase the number of functional teats on sows. More teats should mean more colostrum. It’s a great plan, but there's a twist. Piglets are increasing in number faster than the teats.

How can we boost colostrum production then?

One option is to keep increasing the teat count. But we might end up with longer sows, which could be a squeeze in their current stalls.

Piglets with more colostrum grow up faster. But selecting sows based on this is a bit challenging.

Also, focusing on weaning weight could be the way to go. Heavier weight at weaning suggests healthier piglets, which means they probably got enough colostrum. Some experts are urging more attention here.

It's clear: for more thriving piglets, they need enough colostrum. This calls for teamwork—from genetics experts to those in nutrition—to ensure every piglet gets its fair share.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.