Fertility of Sows Fed ad libitum with a High Fibre Diet During Pregnancy

Abstract

The effect of ad libitum (ADLIB) feeding strategy on the fertility of the group housed sow was studied in a prospective field trial during 1.5 years. All study animals farrowed under standard farrowing circumstances in crates, and they were provided with an ad libitum feeding throughout the 30-day lactation. After weaning, animals were randomly allocated to one of the two dry sow feeding strategies (AD LIB or CONT). After oestrus detection in groups, they were artificially inseminated and moved into pregnancy pens with partially slatted floor, in groups of 40 sows each. The ADLIB sows (n = 447) were loose housed and provided with ad libitum access to 7.7 MJ/kg feed high in fibre from two feeders per group. The control sows (n = 479; CONT) were also loose housed and given a standard dry sow feed in feeding stalls once a day (2.5 kg/day. The energy content of the feed was 9.3 MJ/kg NE). The feeding strategy (ADLIB vs CONT) had no effect on pregnancy rate (85.8 vs 90.9, p > 0.05), weaning to oestrus interval (7.7 vs 7.3 days, p > 0.05), piglets born alive (11.5 ± 3.5 vs 11.6 ± 3.3, p > 0.05), stillborn piglets (1.2 ± 1.8 vs 0.9 ± 1.5, p > 0.05) nor on progesterone concentration (p > 0.05). CONT sows weaned more piglets (9.7 ± 2.2 vs 9.4 ± 2.0, p < 0.01), whereas the piglets of AD LIB sows were heavier at weaning (8.8 ± 0.9 vs 8.0 ± 1.3 kg, p < 0.05). In conclusion, ad libitum feeding with a high in fibre diet during pregnancy did not affect the reproductive performance.

Effects of Using Farm-Grown Forage as a Component in ad Libitum Liquid Feeding for Pregnant Sows in Group-Housing on Body Condition Development and Performance

“…A growing apart of the sow groups due to the different feed intake of the animals in an ad libitum feeding system was described by different authors [27,29,30], whereas Steffens [28] could not document any growing apart of the sows during pregnancy under ad libitum feeding when comparing the feeding systems. Peltoniemi et al [31] found no significant difference in BW and BFT of sows at the beginning of their study, which investigated the effect of ad libitum feeding on body condition development and fertility in comparison with a conventionally fed group. After the third lactation, the ad libitum fed sows were significantly heavier and had a significantly higher mean BFT.…”

Measures Matter—Determining the True Nutri-Physiological Value of Feed Ingredients for Swine

“…Feeding diets containing high concentrations of fermentable NSPs to sows from weaning to estrus and during subsequent gestation periods for three reproductive cycles has been shown to increase the total piglets born and the born-alive litter size [ 112 ]. Studies have also shown that feeding certain types of high-fiber diets during specific phases of the reproductive cycle improves litter birth weights and weaning weights [ 113 , 114 ]. Collectively, although results from these studies indicate that feeding certain types and amounts of DF from common ingredients during specific phases of gilt and sow reproductive cycles can result in improved reproductive performance responses, results from other studies have not shown these benefits [ 108 ].…”

The role of dietary fibre in pig production, with a particular emphasis on reproduction

“…Total litter birth weight and weaning weights were 0.87 kg and 3.59 kg greater respectively, in offspring of sows fed wheat straw compared to the offspring of control sows [ 52 ]. Sows fed ad libitum a diet enriched with sugar beet pulp, oat bran and oats, after weaning their first litter until the next lactation, weaned piglets that were heavier than those of control fed sows [ 54 ]. However, pregnancy rate, weaning to oestrus interval, the number of piglets born alive or number of stillborn piglets were not affected by treatment.…”