In view of the influence of feed and water intake, housing and environment and the social setting on postweaning piglet performance, the interaction among these is assessed. Liquid feeding for weaners is proposed to enhance feed intake during the period immediately following weaning and to help maintain the continuity of nutrient supply. A process of fermentation to promote the acceptability and beneficial effects of liquid feeds is discussed.

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Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0003356100035431How to cite this article: M. A. Varley and D. J. A. Cole (1976). Studies in sow reproduction 4. The effect of level of feeding in lactation and during the interval from weaning to remating on the subsequent reproductive performance of the early-weaned sow. SUMMARY Seventy-five enzootic pneumonia-free female pigs (sows) were allocated at random to one of five treatment groups. Four of these groups were weaned following a 10-day lactation period and were fed either 2 or 4 kg per day in lactation and either 2 or 4 kg per day from weaning to remating, such that the patterns of feeding for the four groups in the two periods were: 4 kg, 4 kg (HH); 4 kg, 2 kg (HL); 2 kg, 4 kg (LH) and 2 kg, 2 kg (LL). A fifth treatment group (control) was weaned following a 42-day lactation period and was fed up to 6-3 kg/day, depending on litter size and 2-7 kg/day from weaning to remating. Level of feeding for the four early-weaned groups in both lactation and in the interval from weaning to remating significantly (P< 0-001) affected the weight changes of the sows during these periods. The interval from weaning to oestrus for the early-weaned sows (8-2 days) was significantly (P< 0-001) greater than for the control sows (4-5 days), but this interval was not affected by level of feeding either in lactation or in the remating period for the early-weaned sows. Litter size at the subsequent farrowing for the early-weaned sows (9-3 piglets) was significantly (P< 0-001) less than litter size for the control sows (12-0 piglets). Level of feeding in lactation or in the weaning to remating period had no effect on subsequent litter size of the early-weaned sows.

Mathematical models for the assessement of growth in young weaned pigs are presented. Growth performance of piglets is analysed in relation to feed intake, gut capacity and weaning weight.

Forty litters were weaned from their Landrace x Landrace x Large White dams at 2-day intervals to give a range of lactation lengths from 4 to 42 days. A significant (P<0-001) negative curvilinear relationship was observed between lactation length and the interval from weaning to first oestrus. This period was increased by 4-2 days with the reduction of lactation from 42 to 4 days. The relationship between lactation length and the interval from farrowing to remating was significant (P<0-001) and positively linear over the whole range of observations. A decrease of 1 day in lactation length reduced this interval by 0-91 days. Very short lactations were associated with reduced litter size at the following farrowing; sows weaned after lactation lengths between 4 and 21 days had an average litter size of 9-6 piglets born per litter in the next parity, whereas sows weaned following lactation lengths between 21 and 42 days had an average of 12-7 piglets born in the next parity (P<0-01).