The response of lactating sows and their litters to different dietary energy allowances. 2. Weight changes and carcass composition of sows

Abstract

The live-weight changes of 48 sows were recorded over three reproductive cycles. All sows were given standard amounts of feed in gestation and one of four energy allowances during lactation. The daily intakes of digestible energy during lactation ranged from 12-2 to 18-2 Meal in the first, 12-9 to 19-6 Meal in the second and 13-2 to 20-2 Meal in the third lactation. Weight change in lactation responded to energy intake; sows on the lowest energy intake lost weight whilst those on the highest intake gained. At weaning of their third litters, sows on the highest energy allowance weighed 44 kg more than those on the lowest level and this was equivalent to a carcass difference of 37-3 kg at slaughter. All the sows were slaughtered after the third litters had been weaned and the carcasses were dissected into lean, subcutaneous fat+skin, and bone. Sows from all treatments had less subcutaneous fat+ skin and more muscle and bone than non-pregnant gilts killed at a mean weight of 129 kg, a weight equivalent to that of the experimental animals at their first mating. The reduction in fat reserves was linearly correlated with dietary energy intake of the sows. Sows receiving the lowest energy intake in lactation possessed fat reserves which were estimated to be only 25% as great as in gilts comparable to those used to initiate the experiment. This reduction in body reserves has implications with regard to the long-term effects of feeding lactating sows low intakes of energy during 6-week lactations.

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.…”

The effect of a non-starch polysaccharide-hydrolysing enzyme (Rovabio® Excel) on feed intake and body condition of sows during lactation and on progeny growth performance

“…In this study, the HND diet was achieved by adding ,6% palm oil. Supplementary dietary fat fed to sows during lactation has been found to increase milk energy by increasing the fat content of the milk (O'Grady et al, 1973;Babinszky 1998). The current findings indicate that feeding a HND diet to sows during late gestation and lactation results in increased energy intake during this time period.…”

Heterosis and recombination effects in Hampshire and Landrace swine

“…Tables 12 and 13 Mean values for percent fat, protein and lactose in this study are similar to those reported by Schuld and Bowland (1968). O'Grady et al (1973) found similar values for percent protein and lower levels for percent fat and lactose. and Rook and Witter (1968) reported lower values for percent lactose and higher percentages for fat and protein.…”

“…reported that milk from first litter gilts was higher in lactose percent and lower in percent fat and protein. O'Grady et al (1973) found that milk from first litter gilts on day 24 of lactation was slightly higher in percent fat and protein and nearly equal in percent lactose and total solids when com pared to second parity sows. reported that milk from second parity sows was lower in percent fat and nearly equal in percent protein to that of first litter gilts.…”