The influence of intake of dietary energy in pregnancy and lactation upon sow productivity

Abstract

Fifty-two Large White gilts, arranged in thirteen groups of four litter sisters, were allocated at mating to one of four treatment groups. These treatments, arranged as a 2x2 factorial, allowed daily energy intakes in pregnancy of 8-3 Meal (H(e)) or 5-2 Meal (L(e)) and of average daily intake during lactation of 20 Meal (h(e)) or 13-8 Meal (m(e)). Daily intakes of protein, minerals and vitamins were similar for all treatments. There were no consistent differences in health or breeding regularity between the treatments.The H(e) sows had a net gain in pregnancy 22 kg greater than the L(e) sows. Feeding the higher level in lactation (h(e) resulted in a reduced sow weight loss during lactation of 20, 12 and 10 kg in the first, second and third parities respectively, as compared with the m(e) sows. There were no consistent effects on the numbers of pigs born apart from the first litter in which L(e) sows produced significantly larger litters at birth. The higher energy intakes in pregnancy and lactation led to very similar increases in the weights of the piglets, of the order of 0-1 kg at birth, 0-4 kg at 3 weeks of age, and 1-1 kg at 8 weeks of age. Sows given the same overall energy intake throughout their reproductive life (H(e) m(e), L(e) h(e)) at the end of the third litter had similar live weights and had produced a similar total weight of weaned pigs. The practical implications of these results are discussed.

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

“…As expected, sows fed Lo lost more (P<.01) weight during lactation than those fed Hi. These results agree with those of Elsley et al (1968), O'Grady et al (1975) and Reese et al (1982). Average litter size at weaning was not affected by energy intake which also agrees with previous reports (Elslcy et al, 1968;O'Grady et al, 1973;Reese et al, 1982).…”

“…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.…”

“…Studies by Elsley et al (1968), O'Grady et al (1973), Adam and Shearer (1975) disagree; however, the pigs in the previous studies received creep feed that may have masked differences in pig weaning weights. Reese et al (1982) reported that the effect of energy intake during lactation on pig weaning weight was variable.…”

“…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. Elsley et al (1968) and Adam and Shearer (1975) reported that energy intake during the previous lactation had no influence on the number of pigs born and average pig birth weight. Feed intake during lactation also had no influence on litter size at birth Hitchcock et al, 1971;Varley and Cole, 1976) and birth weight O'Grady et al, 1973;Varley and Cole, 1976).…”

“…Elsley et al (1968), O'Grady et al (1973) and Adam and Shearer (1975) determined that the interval from weaning to first estrus was not affected when sows were fed 12 to 20 Meal of digestible energy daily during three or more lactations. Reese et al (1982) reported that energy intake during one lactation had a marked influence on the subsequent interval from weaning to first estrus.…”