Sow compound premix feed enhances lactation performance through functional additives. The key is to precisely meet the specific nutritional needs of sows during late gestation and lactation, while stimulating their physiological functions to optimize milk synthesis and secretion. This process involves the synergistic effects of multiple functional ingredients, encompassing multiple dimensions, including energy supply, amino acid balance, hormone regulation, and antioxidant protection.
The primary function of functional additives is to provide a highly efficient energy source. Lactating sows need to convert large amounts of feed into milk, but the energy density of conventional diets often falls short of these requirements. The high-quality fat powder or medium-chain fatty acids added to sow compound premix feed are rapidly absorbed directly into the sow's intestines and converted into milk fat, significantly increasing the fat content of milk. This energy supplement not only increases milk production but also improves the energy density of milk, providing more growth fuel for piglets. For example, some products, by adding medium-chain triglycerides derived from coconut oil, increase the fat content of sow milk and significantly increase piglet weaning weight.
A precise amino acid profile is key to enhancing lactation performance. Lysine, the first limiting amino acid, directly impacts sow protein synthesis and milk production. Sow compound premix feeds incorporate high-quality protein sources such as crystalline lysine or blood meal to ensure a balanced diet with branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) like valine and methionine. This balance not only promotes amino acid uptake by mammary cells but also activates the mTOR signaling pathway, accelerating milk protein synthesis. For example, valine supplementation stimulates glutamine synthesis in the mammary gland, thereby increasing the immunoglobulin content in milk and enhancing disease resistance in piglets.
Hormonal regulators in functional additives indirectly enhance lactation by mimicking or promoting hormone secretion in sows. Soy isoflavones, as phytoestrogens, activate estrogen receptors in sow mammary tissue, promoting mammary duct development and acinar cell proliferation. Traditional Chinese medicine extracts such as fenugreek (Vaccaria segetalis) prolong peak lactation by regulating prolactin and growth hormone secretion. The synergistic effect of these additives enables sows to maintain sustained high lactation throughout lactation, preventing decreased milk production due to hormonal fluctuations.
The antioxidant system is crucial for ensuring stable lactation in sows. Due to their high metabolism, lactating sows are prone to excessive oxygen free radical production, which can damage mammary cells and reduce milk synthesis efficiency. Vitamin E, selenium, and organic trace element chelates added to the sow compound premix feed build a highly effective antioxidant network, scavenging free radicals and repairing damaged cells. For example, selenomethionine supplementation not only increases selenium content in sow milk but also protects mammary cells from oxidative stress by enhancing glutathione peroxidase activity.
The addition of microbial and enzyme preparations further optimizes digestion and absorption efficiency in sows. Probiotics such as Bacillus subtilis regulate the balance of the sow's intestinal flora, increase the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids, and provide additional energy for the mammary gland. The combined use of cellulase and xylanase breaks down anti-nutritional factors in the diet, releasing more usable nutrients and improving the sow's absorption of protein and minerals. This improved digestive efficiency directly translates into an increase in raw materials for milk synthesis, thereby increasing milk production.
Functional additives also indirectly improve lactation by improving sows' suboptimal health. For example, natural plant extracts such as oregano phenol possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, reducing energy expenditure due to latent infections and enabling more nutrients to be used for milk production. The addition of motherwort extract, on the other hand, promotes postpartum uterine involution in sows, preventing the decline in feed intake and insufficient lactation caused by reproductive system diseases.
Sow compound premix feed, through the multi-dimensional intervention of functional additives, achieves comprehensive optimization from energy supply and nutritional balance to physiological regulation. This scientifically formulated formula not only increases sow milk production and quality, but also prolongs peak lactation, providing more adequate nutritional support for piglets, ultimately improving overall farm production efficiency.
