Studies on energy and nitrogen metabolism of pregnant and lactating sows as well as suckling piglets

Sixteen purebred Iberian (IB) sows were used in two consecutive trials to determine the efficiency of conversion of sow's milk into piglet body weight (BW) gain and the relationship between milk protein and body protein retention and between milk energy yield and body energy retention in the nursing IB piglet. In each trial, four sows were selected in order to evaluate their milk production, litter growth and nutrient balance measurements, together with four additional sows for milk sampling. Litter size was equalized to six piglets. Daily milk yield (MY) was determined weekly by the weigh-suckle-weigh technique over a 34-day lactation period. Piglets were weighed individually at birth and then weekly from day 5 of lactation. Milk samples were collected on days 5, 12, 19, 26 and 34 post partum. The comparative slaughter procedure was used to determine piglet nutrient and energy retention. One piglet from each litter was slaughtered at birth and four on the morning of day 35. Total MY was on average 5.175 6 0.157 kg/day. The average chemical composition (g/kg) of the milk was 179 6 4 dry matter, 53.4 6 1.0 CP, 58.5 6 3.8 fat, 10.4 6 0.3 ash and 56.9 6 2.3 lactose. Milk gross energy (GE) was 4.626 6 0.145 MJ/kg. Milk intake per piglet tended to increase in trial 2 (832 v. 893 g/day; P 5 0.066). Piglet BW gain contained (g/kg) 172.1 6 1.3 protein, 151.5 6 3.5 fat, 41.4 6 0.6 ash and 635 6 3 water and 10.127 6 0.126 MJ GE/kg. Throughout the 34-day nursing period, the piglets grew at an average rate of 168 6 3 g/day. The ratio of daily piglet BW gain to daily MY was 0.195 6 0.002 g/g and the gain per MJ milk GE intake was 41.9 6 0.5 g/MJ. The overall efficiency of protein accretion (g CP gain/g CP milk intake) was low and declined in trial 2 (0.619 v. 0.571; P 5 0.016). Nutrient and energy deposition between birth and weaning were 27.4 6 0.5 g/day protein, 24.2 6 0.8 g/day fat and 1615 6 40 kJ/day energy. Piglet energy requirements for maintenance were 404 kJ metabolizable energy (ME)/kg BW 0.75 . ME was used for growth with a net efficiency of 0.584. These results suggest that poor efficiency in the use of sow's milk nutrients rather than a shortage in milk nutrient supply might explain the low growth rate of the suckling IB piglet.Keywords: milk production, milk composition, Iberian piglets, protein and energy deposition, nutrient balance ImplicationsThis study suggests that growth rate in the suckling Iberian (IB) piglet is not limited by a shortage in milk nutrient supply but might rather be related to a very low efficiency in the use of milk protein and energy. In the young IB piglet, protein deposition is a costly process, presumably because of a high protein turnover rate, as found in later growth stages. The sharp decrease in milk conversion ratios detected during the last week of the study implies that a lactation period of more than 4 weeks is not to be recommended.

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Production and composition of Iberian sow's milk and use of milk nutrients by the suckling Iberian piglet

Aguinaga

Gómez-Carballar²,

Nieto

et al. 2011

Animal

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Utilization of milk fatty acids by the suckling Iberian piglets

Aguinaga

Haro

Lara

et al. 2016

Animal

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A total of 16 pure-bred Iberian (IB) sows, all of them suckling six piglets, were used, eight of them in each of the two consecutive trials (1 and 2). Daily milk yield and composition were determined weekly over a 34-day lactation period. Within each litter, one piglet at birth and four piglets on day 35 of life were slaughtered. Milk intake per piglet tended to be greater in trial 2 (832 v. 893 g/day; P = 0.066), but piglets grew at 168 ± 3.3 g/day, irrespective of the trial. In the IB sow milk, the linoleic (LA) : linolenic (LNA) acid ratio averaged 14.6 and 15.2 in trial 1 and trial 2, respectively. A fivefold increase in piglet body fat content was observed over lactation ( P < 0.001). Most of this fat (81.4%) was present in the carcass. After 34 days of lactation, whole-body relative content of palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic and oleic acids were very close to those in the milk consumed, suggesting direct deposition. Daily deposition of LA derivatives and of LNA and its derivatives was found to be extremely low (<0.02 g, on average). Moreover, some of the arachidonic acid (ARA) in tissues of the IB piglet at birth disappeared throughout the lactating period. An overall fractional deposition for total fatty acids (FA) was 0.409. Fractional oxidation (disappearance) rates were 0.939 and 0.926 for n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated FA. The overall rate of disappearance for the major non-essential FA (myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic and oleic acids), estimated as 1 − the overall fractional deposition rate, was 0.546. It is concluded that the high degree of FA unsaturation, high oxidation rate of LA and LNA, and poor synthesis of ARA from LA and of docosahexaenoic acid from LNA found in the suckling piglet might increase the energy cost of whole-body fat accretion, a contributor to the observed low efficiency of use of milk energy for growth.

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Effects of dietary energy intake during gestation and lactation on milk yield and composition of first, second and fourth parity sows

Beyer

Jentsch

Kuhla

et al. 2007

Archives of Animal Nutrition

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In order to determine the effects of a varied level of dietary energy intake during pregnancy and lactation on milk yield and composition, first, second and fourth parity sows (Large White x German Landrace) were provided with energy at a level of either: (i) 100% of ME requirement (MEreq) during pregnancy and lactation, (ii) 120% MEreq during pregnancy and 80% during lactation, and (iii) 80% MEreq during pregnancy and 120% during lactation. In spite of equal target levels feed analysis revealed that gestating first parity sows with 120/80 treatment combination and lactating sows of 80/120 treatment combination received 25, and 11-17% more digestible N than in the respective 100/100 treatment combination. Irrespective of this 120/80 sows responded with the highest milk DM, fat, and energy contents, and the lowest lactose concentrations whereas protein levels where not affected, irrespective of parity (p < 0.05). Milk yield of sows in 1st and 4th lactation was 85 and 106% of that in 2nd lactation, respectively. Average milk composition was 18.1% DM, 4.9% protein, 6.8% fat, 5.6% lactose, and 0.8% ash. Milk composition changes ceased at day 7 of lactation with a reduction of milk GE and protein, and an increase of lactose content. Concentrations of threonine, arginine, valine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, cystine, and tryptophan, as well as stearic, oleic, and linoleic acid were higher in colostrum than in milk at later lactation stages. In contrast, laurine, myristic, palmitic, and palmitoleic acids were lower concentrated in colostrum. In conclusion, these results illustrate the importance of body reserve mobilization for milk production in sows and indicate that low energy supply during gestation cannot be compensated by higher energy supply during lactation.

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Studies on energy and nitrogen metabolism of pregnant and lactating sows as well as suckling piglets

Cited by 4 publications

References 27 publications

Production and composition of Iberian sow's milk and use of milk nutrients by the suckling Iberian piglet

Production and composition of Iberian sow's milk and use of milk nutrients by the suckling Iberian piglet

Utilization of milk fatty acids by the suckling Iberian piglets

Effects of dietary energy intake during gestation and lactation on milk yield and composition of first, second and fourth parity sows

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