124 Effects of Different Feeding Levels Prior to Farrowing on Sow and Litter Performance

Abstract

Our objective was to determine the effects of different pre-farrow feeding levels on sow and litter performance. On d 112 of gestation, a total of 309 sows (Camborough; PIC, Hendersonville, TN) were blocked by parity (P1, P2, P3+) and body weight and allotted to one of three treatments in a randomized complete block design. Treatments consisted of different feeding levels, which included: 1) 1.81 kg/d; 2) 2.72 kg/d; and 3) ad libitum access to feed. Sows were fed a corn-soybean meal-dried distillers grains with solubles-based lactation diet containing 3.36 Mcal of ME/kg and 1.17% SID Lys. Sows were weighed and visual BCS and caliper units were recorded at entry into the farrowing room at d 112 of gestation and at weaning. Daily feed intake was recorded from the beginning of the study until weaning. Litters were cross-fostered within treatment within 24-h after farrowing, and litter weights were collected at 12-h post-farrow and at weaning. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS with sow as the experimental unit and block as a random effect. Covariates were used if they significantly improved the model fit. Ad libitum sows had the greatest (P < 0.05) feed intake from d 112 to farrow, followed by 2.72 kg/d and 1.81 kg/d treatments; however, no evidence (P > 0.10) for differences in lactation feed intake were observed. Wean-to-estrus interval was greater (P < 0.05) for ad libitum sows compared to sows fed 1.81 kg/d. Removal plus mortality rate was marginally lower (P < 0.10) for sows fed 2.72 kg/d compared to sows fed 1.81 kg/d. No evidence (P > 0.10) for treatment differences were observed in total born, stillbirth rate, and litter or piglet weight gain during lactation. In conclusion, results from this study do not support increasing feeding levels for sows prior to farrowing starting on d 112 of gestation.