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Get updated on the latest knowledge about sows, piglets and finishers. You are always welcome to contact us for more information on tel. +45 8887 5200 or contact your nutritionist here.

The best way to feed sows - a recommendation

At Vilomix’ 40th anniversary our Senior Nutritionist from Denmark Jens Svendgaard made a talk on “Feeding pigs in 20 minutes”. 23 years of experience with feed consultancy gives Jens expert knowledge when it comes to what works in herds. You can now read the main points and recommendations Jens makes for sows.

How can I ensure stable body condition for gestating sows in cold weather?

It is common during the winter months to increase the feed strength because of an increased maintenance level. We therefore recommend you to check if you are feeding the gestating sows enough. In this article you will see our recommendations.

Global focus on sustainability and climate

At Vilomix, we work on a daily basis with optimization of our products for the best product for the price. Examples is better utilization of non-available nutrients in the feed by the addition of e.g. enzymes and probiotics as well as by using synthetic amino acids.

Optimal feeding of sows in the period of farrowing

The period of farrowing is an area of attention and efforts inside of any farm. Quick farrowing without complications will bring many alive and active piglets, also healthy sows ready to quick recover and productive work during following lactating period.

Feeding of pregnant sows 4 weeks before farrowing

One of the big challenges in feeding of pregnant sows – reach optimal weight of new born piglets. Due to this, SEGES finished research...

Feed aspects of ear necrosis

Correct temperature in farrowing stable

Correct climate in the stable is very important for pigs health and well-being. Piglets has the highest demand for high temperature, were sows and slaughter pigs has the lowest. You should strive after having 20-22oC in the farrowing stable. In the covered creep area there should be 32-34oC.

Vilomix' new product, ViloBoost, supply the sow with extra energy before farrowing and boosts the milkproduction. ViloBoost should be given by 1 kg/day til sows from entering the farrowingstable to 2-3 days after farrowing. Read more about ViloBoost in the article.

Do your sows have enough energy around farrowing?

If the sow doesn't get feed for more than 6 hours before farrowing, this risk of lengthy farrowing and number of deadborn piglets will be increased. All because of not enough energy, To avoid this, it is important to give the sow enough feed before the actual farrowing and increase advantageously the energylevel in the feed. Read more about our recommenfations to feedcurve and solution til energy supplement.

Typical mistakes in farrowing stable

Do you regularly/every 14. days check the weight of 1 liter feed? If you don't do this and use volumeboxes (to dry feed), the sows might get to little or to much feed. Both parts can have a big economic impact. Read more about how 10 % difference in weight can cost up to 30 €/year sow and how you can control the feed amount correctly.

DHA – Way to having stronger piglets

By adding DHA in feed for sows, it is possible to obtain stronger and more vigorous piglets. Tests have also shown that the immune system can be improved. Read more in the article how it should e dosed and what you can get out of it.

Experience with HyD

HyD is a tranferable vitamin D, which increases the longevity of sows and gives an improves the litterweight. VSP has experimented with HyD and concludes that there are up to 5 kg increased litterweight at weaning.

Fibre in feed for sows

Benefits of adding fibre in your feed for sows. It is widely known that fibre helps to increase the gastrointestinal health of the pigs. Besides this, there are also a number of other benefits of using fibre in the diet.

How to feed piglets for high daily gain?

When the weaners come from the farrowing house, it’s important that they get the best possible start to be able to perform consistently all the way through the unit. Read the recommendations from our Senior Nutritionist Jens Svendgaard who knows what works with his 23 years of experience with feed consultancy.

Cleaning the ventilation – is that important?

Blood plasma - A way to reduce medical-zinc oxide?

Trials has shown that feeding with blood plasma will increase piglets avarage daily gain (ADG) and the resistance against e.g. E.Coli. Even compared to medical-zinc oxide (high amount of zinc), blood plasma gives same or higher ADG.

Typical mistakes in climate stables

Focus on limiting feedwast in climate stable do sometimes overshadows the need for sufficient amount of feed in same places. Piglets feedintake is dependent on if they can get enough food out of the feeders and if there is enough eating places. A good rule to know is that the piglets should be able to eat 0,9 FEsv/piglet/day. If you are behind this target there can be up to 1,3 €/produced piglet to save if you follow our advice in the article.

Our suggestions and solutions for "no zinc"

Today, when we see challenges with small piglets, large litters and reduction in use of antibiotic, we have to think differently when medically zinc may be phased out in Europe. We have a line of products on the shelf now that we have good experience with and which can reduce diarrhea incidence and keep productivity high.

Unistart Mini Safe - New concentrate

Unistart Mini Safe ensure a smooth transition from sow-milk to dry feed. With IgHancer and a high amount of lactose, the pig a ensured enough energy and easily digestible carbohydrates, good gastrointestinal health and a strong immunesystem.

Sea Weed & micro encapsulated zinc

We have tested seaweed as an alternative to extra zinc in three herds. They have fully or partly been able to phace out extra zinc. Seaweed costs half of veterinary zinc and should be added with 3-4 kg/t. from 6-10 kg piglets and 1-2 kg/t. from 10-15 kg piglets. If you want to use seaweed, call your Vilomix nutritionist and read more in the article.

Miya Gold - A new probiotic

Miya Gold is a probiotic, which we start using in late 2015. It is used in herds where there is problem with balance in the gastrointestinal. The product is recognized among danish veterinarians and the results were generally positive and provided a better intestinal health of piglets.

Piglets should be fed by size

There is a clear trend in herds to have a lower weaning weight than usually, and this requires extra focus on the feed and switchen to newt feed. A shorter lactationperiod and the decreasing weaning weight means smaller piglets which require starter feed for longer time.

Feed for finishers

The better the feed conversion rate, the less feed needed per pig. Consequently, productivity can be improved by increasing the amino acid profile to fulfil the needs of the pig optimally, thus improving productivity. With 23 years of experience with feed consultancy our Senior Nutritionist from Denmark Jens Svendgaard knows what works in herds. You can now read the main points and recommendations Jens makes for finishers.

How can increasing lean meat percentage be worthwhile at this time?

Right now sales prices are high and amino acid prices low. Hence it makes sense to focus on the last 10% of productivity and unexploited potential. You can get this by increasing the amino acid profile for young pigs and finishers, depending on the amino acid profile in your feed today.

Rye in feed for pigs

New norms for sodium and chloride

Salmonella problems in slaughterpigs

Salmonella in fattening pigs is an expensive acquaintance. During this season we see more problems than at other times of the year, and it is therefore important to follow your meat samples from the slaughterhouse. In the article here we have collected a number of recommendations for the prevention and control of salmonella.

Ulcer in finisher

We see a growing trend of gastric ulcers in pigs. New theoriessuggest that low dry matter levels and many feedings can increase the amount of gastric ulcers. Read also more in the article about how vitamin K and soidumbecarbonate can help to reduce mortality rate.

Mineral feed must suit the prevailing conditions

We recommend regular adjustment of mineral supply, always taking into account the feed situation. Major changes to the ration, e.g. switching to soda grain, starting on beet pellets or changes in the grass/maize ratio, require adjustment of the mineral feed. And remember to use the correct amount as calculated for the feed.

The dilemma of the high-production cow

The critical period after calving and the mobilisation phase require particular focus. During those periods, the cow is unable to take in enough energy. At this point, neither the best management nor the best feed are enough. The feed ration can simply NOT provide enough energy.

How do we tackle copper deficiency?

We have been receiving more and more enquiries concerning copper deficiency from consultants and farmers recently. Cows develop "glasses" (rings around their eyes) and stiff, spiky coats, with the appearance of unthriving. Whether this is due to more focus on the problem or an actual feed-related problem is difficult to say.

Suspect toxins in your silage?

With a cold and wet harvest, the risk of toxins in the ensilage increases. Therefore, be aware of symptoms of toxin poisoning. Read more about symptoms and what you can do.

Using natural products, could reduce the methane production

Various herbs, spices, seaweed and essential oils, as well as other natural herbal substances, have shown a positive effect on methane reduction as well as on feed conversion and health. Read more in the article on how to achieve less methane production and improved health.

A healthy calf requires a healthy foetus

In calf production it is very important that the calves who are arriving in the crew have a high health status. When they have that, they are less susceptible to diseases and do not infect the other calves. To achieve a strong calf, which has a good immune system, organic microminerals and natural vitamin can be fed to the dry cow, as it can be transferred from the cow to both fetal and colostrum.

Vitamins and minerals strengthens your herd

The animals needs for vitamins and minerals depend on maintenance, growth and milk production, but stress levels and feeding are also important. Some crews are successful in feeding type-minerals to both cows and calves, while in other herds there is a need for a higher supply of especially Vitamin E and Selenium. The allocation of mineral feed has shown to provide stronger calves, better growth, good reproduction and better colostrum quality.