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Responses of lactating sows to food level

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

P. R. Eastham ,
W. C. Smith ,
C. T. Whittemore  and
P. Phillips
P. R. Eastham
Affiliation:
Edinburgh School of Agriculture, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JC
W. C. Smith
Affiliation:
Edinburgh School of Agriculture, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JC
C. T. Whittemore
Affiliation:
Edinburgh School of Agriculture, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JC
P. Phillips
Affiliation:
AFRC Unit of Statistics, James Clark Maxwell Building, May field Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ
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Abstract

Eighty crossbred sows, following a standard feeding regime in pregnancy, received daily either 2·0, 3·5. 5·0 or 6·5 kg diet containing 130 g digestible crude protein, 8·0 g lysine and 13·1 MJ digestible energy per kg over a 28-day lactation to produce variation in body fatness and live weight. Sows on the highest level of feeding gained 13 kg and lost some 3 mm backfat between farrowing and weaning; corresponding changes on the lowest level of feeding were –31 kg and –9 mm backfat. Live weight of the litter at weaning was positively related to sow daily food allowance in lactation, but the major benefit of increasing lactation food allowance was in reducing the rate of maternal body weight and fatty tissue loss. These effects were described by the regression equations: maternal live-weight change in lactation (kg/day) = —1·7+0·34 lactation food intake (kg/day); maternal backfat change in lactation (mm LJSP2) = —0·40+0·05 lactation food intake fkg/day). Sows ingesting less food in lactation catabolized proportionately more body tissue to maintain milk yield and piglet growth, although they achieved this imperfectly, having lighter litters at weaning. Calculation of an overall net balance, taking into account the need subsequently to replenish tissues catabolized in lactation and ensuring efficient rebreeding of the sow, favoured a lactation feeding strategy towards ad libitum.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 46 , Issue 1 , February 1988 , pp. 71 - 77
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1988

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References

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