More Milk from the Sow with EP199

At Strandgården in southern Denmark, farm manager Poul-Egon Jensen faced a challenge familiar to many pig producers: the sows did not produce enough milk. Today, the farm reports improved milk production, stronger piglets and better overall performance.

EP199 Made the Difference

Following advice from the herd veterinarian, the farm adjusted its sow feed and introduced EP199, a lactic acid bacteria fermented ingredient based on rapeseed meal and seaweed.

The results were quickly noticeable.

"I've never had sows that milk better than they do now. Around 95% of them perform really well and are capable of nursing additional piglets," says Poul-Egon Jensen.

Stronger Results

Before introducing EP199, insufficient milk production was a recurring challenge on the farm. After the feed change, several improvements were observed:

• Weaning weights reaching 8 kg
• An increase from 33-34 to 38.5 piglets per sow per year
• Improved gut health in the sow herd
• Fewer stomach ulcers

"We hardly see any stomach ulcers anymore, and the gut microbiota seems healthier," says Poul-Egon.

How EP199 Is Used

At Strandgården, EP199 partially replaces soybean meal and wheat in the feed ration:

• 4% EP199 in gestation feed
• 8% EP199 in lactation feed

Supported by Research

The farm's experience aligns with findings from a large-scale study conducted by the University of Copenhagen involving more than 30,000 sows. The study demonstrated improved gut microbiota diversity in sows fed EP199.

For Poul-Egon, the benefits extend beyond the farrowing unit.

"The bigger and healthier piglets we transfer to the nursery, the easier everyday life becomes for everyone involved."

See the Results in Practice

Watch the video featuring Poul-Egon Jensen and owner Erling Rasmussen as they share their experiences with EP199 and the impact on sow performance and piglet growth.

▶ Watch the video here: https://europeanprotein.com/milk-flows-from-the-sow-with-ep199/