Are The Sows Fed Adequately?

1999 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Swine Report. Feeding and managing sows so changes in their body weight and condition fall within predetermined targets is critical for successful reproduction. General feeding recommendations are useful in designing a feeding strategy for sows in all pork producing operations. However, nutrient requirements are not the same for all sows and there are differences in how well producers implement feeding protocols. It is important sows be monitored systemically on farms to ensure their nutrient requirements are met. Body condition scoring seems to be the most practical and useful method of monitoring sows compared to backfat probing or weighing. Guidelines on how to condition score sows, as well as how to adjust feed intake to achieve a desired body condition score, are provided.