The effect of level of feed intake in pregnancy and in lactation upon the productivity of sows

Abstract

SUMMARYEight research and teaching centres have co-operated in an experiment involving 132 sows. Six treatments were used, combining three levels of feeding in pregnancy with two in lactation. Pregnancy treatments were High 3−2 kg meal/day, Medium 2·4 kg/day and Low 1·6 kg/day; in lactation either a high level, 4·1 kg plus 0·2 kg/pig (h) or a medium level, 2·3 kg plus 0·2 kg/pig (m) were given. The sows were maintained on the same nutritional regime for three parities although inevitably some sows were lost before the completion of the trial. Sow live-weight gains in pregnancy were directly related to feed intake; in lactation, losses in sow live weight were dependent on gains made in the previous pregnancy and on the level fed while suckling. After the first parity, in which animals fed the low level in pregnancy tended to produce larger litters (though the difference was not significant), there were no differences in numbers born attributable to treatments.Increases in the feed intake of sows in pregnancy resulted in consistent and significant increases in the weight of the pigs at birth. This increase in birth weight also resulted in an increase in weight at weaning in the second and third parities. Level of feeding in lactation, which had a highly significant effect on sow live weight, had much less influence on weaning weights of pigs. There were no consistent pregnancy × lactation interactions, the effects of treatments in the two phases being additive.An assessment is made of the relative efficiency of the six treatments and the value of the experiment is discussed in relation to other studies concerned with sow nutrition.

A two-diet system andad libitumlactation feeding of the sow 1. Sow performance

“…These changes in LW were greater in gilts than in older sows, which is in agreement with earlier results (Elsley, Bannerman, Bathurst, Bracewell, Cunningham, Dodsworth, Dodds, Forbes and Laird, 1969;Lee and Close, 1988). These changes in LW were greater in gilts than in older sows, which is in agreement with earlier results (Elsley, Bannerman, Bathurst, Bracewell, Cunningham, Dodsworth, Dodds, Forbes and Laird, 1969;Lee and Close, 1988).…”

Influence of Energy Intake during Lactation on Subsequent Gestation, Lactation and Postweaning Performance of Sows

“…Apparently sows fed Lo compensated for their greater weight loss during Lac 1 [indicated by the differences (P<.01) in Lac 1 sow weaning weight]. Previous reports indicate that energy intake (Elsley et al, 1968;Adam and Shearer, 1975;O'Grady et al, 1975) and feed intake (Lodge et al, 1961;Elsley et al, 1969;Hitchcock et al, 1971) during lactation had no effect on net sow weight change during gestation. However, MacPherson et al (1969) and O'Grady (1971) reported that sows fed low protein diets during lactation tended to compensate by gaining more weight during the following gestation than those fed higher protein diets.…”

“…Farrowing rate (i.e., number of sows farrowed/number mated) was not significantly affected by energy intake during Lac 1. Although farrowing rate was not reported, Lidvall and Griffin (1962), Elsley et al (1969), Hitchcock et al (1971) and Varley and Cole (1976) reported that lactation feeding level had no influence on conception rate of sows. Similarly, energy intake during Lac 1 had no significant influence on the total number of fully developed pigs born or born alive; however, sows fed Lo farrowed lighter weight (P<.10) pigs than those fed Hi.…”

The effects of food intake in gestation on sows lactating for 14 days

“…The effects of documented for sows lactating for 6 to 8 adjustments to food intake will be modified weeks (Elsley, Bannerman, Bathhurst, by initial reserves of body lipid (Whittemore, Bracewell, Cunningham, Dodsworth, Dodds, Franklin and Pearce, 1980) which will depend Forbes and Laird, 1969;O'Grady, Elsley, to some extent on live weight at first mating. The effects of documented for sows lactating for 6 to 8 adjustments to food intake will be modified weeks (Elsley, Bannerman, Bathhurst, by initial reserves of body lipid (Whittemore, Bracewell, Cunningham, Dodsworth, Dodds, Franklin and Pearce, 1980) which will depend Forbes and Laird, 1969;O'Grady, Elsley, to some extent on live weight at first mating.…”