Feeding level and diet type during the wean-to-estrus interval on the reproductive performance of sows

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate how the amount and type of diet consumed during the wean-to-estrus interval (WEI) affects reproductive performance and WEI duration in sows. A total of 542 sows were distributed into the following treatment groups based on a 2 × 2 factorial design: feed amount during WEI (2.75 or 3.75 kg/day) and diet (gestation [G] or lactation [L]) groups. Dietary treatments were as follows: high supply of G diet (GH), low supply of G diet (GL), high supply of L diet (LH), and low supply of L diet (LL). Sows were randomly allocated to groups according to their body score Caliper and birth order. There was an interaction (P < 0.05) between the factors for WEI duration, which was 0.2 days shorter in the GH and LL groups than in the other groups. No difference was observed between treatments (P>0.05) for the birth rate, total births, stillbirths, or total litter weight. There was a trend (P<0.10) toward a higher rate of live births in sows fed with G diet and sows receiving a low diet supply, with an average of 91.95% for both groups. In addition, there was a positive trend (P < 0.10) for live weight of the litter, where GH and LL treatments resulted in higher birth weight (17.9 and 17.7 kg, respectively) than other treatments. In conclusion, a supply of 3.75 kg/day or the use of a more energetic feed (lactation) during the WEI did not improve the reproductive performance of the subsequent cycle of sows in good body condition.

Feed intake patterns of modern genetics lactating sows: characterization and effect of the reproductive parameters

“…Postweaning reproductive performance is affected by the extent and timing of catabolic losses of maternal tissues during lactation due to being prioritized towards milk production [ 29 ]. Also, milk production is suddenly interrupted after reaching the peak, and they are separated from piglets and moved to a different place [ 30 ].…”