CATDOLL : CATDOLL: How to determine the back fat condition of sows

In the breeding industry, understanding the back fat of sows is crucial to the health and reproductive effect of pigs. By observing and judging the back fat of sows, we can evaluate their body fat reserves, prevent diseases in advance, and optimize feeding management.

What is backfat

Back fat refers to the subcutaneous fat layer on the back of the sow, which is the common food stored by the sow during lactation to supply the piglets. The thickness of the back fat directly reflects the sow's feed utilization rate, pregnancy ability and lactation ability.

How to judge the back fat condition of sows

1. Observe the appearance: The back fat of a healthy sow is plump and even, with a round curve and no unevenness.
2. Feel: By touching the back of the sow, you can feel the thickness and uniformity of the back fat. The back fat with moderate thickness feels soft and elastic, if the back fat is too thin, it will feel hard, and if it is too thick, it will feel soft.
3. Use a backfat meter: A backfat meter is a tool specifically used to measure the thickness of sow backfat. Using a backfat meter can improve the accuracy of measurement, monitor the backfat situation in real time, and adjust feeding management measures in a timely manner.

Factors affecting backfat

1. Feeding and management: Reasonable feeding and management measures can increase the sow’s feed intake and ensure that it can take in enough nutrients.
2. Feed quality: The quality of feed directly determines whether the sow can take in sufficient calories and nutrition.
3. Disease prevention: If the sow is sick, it will affect its appetite and digestion and absorption ability, which will lead to worse back fat condition.

Backfat condition assessment and improvement measures

By regularly observing and measuring the sow's back fat, its feeding and health status can be evaluated in time. If the back fat is found to be too thin or too thick, the following improvement measures can be taken:
1. Adjust feeding management: such as increasing feed supply appropriately, improving feeding methods, etc.
2. Modify feed formula: Adjust according to nutritional needs to ensure that sows can consume enough nutrients.
3. Strengthen disease prevention and control: Carry out vaccination and disease testing regularly to detect and treat diseases in a timely manner.

The observation and evaluation of sow backfat is an important feeding and management task, which can help farmers improve the production performance and health level of sows. Maintaining a reasonable backfat thickness is of great significance to improving the production efficiency of pigs.

If you have any questions about the judgment of sow backfat and want to learn more, please feel free to consult our professional team. Thank you for reading this article and hope it helps you!