![Figure 1. Sow daily water intake 5 days before and 14 days after farrowing. The vertical lines indicate the 10 and 90 percentiles, and the points represent the averages. Day 0 is the day (from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.) that farrowing started. Source: Fraser & Phillips, 1989.](https://www.pig333.com/3tres3_common/art/pig333/16029/home.jpg?w=650&h=366&ho=1&ts=1653979446)
The importance of water consumption for sows in lactation
During lactation ensuring the sow consumes enough water is essential, as well as maintaining the water:feed ratio needed to lessen weight loss in the sow and allow a greater daily gain in the piglets.