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The influence of litter size on milk production of sows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

D. E. Auldist ,
L. Morrish ,
P. Eason  and
R. H. King
D. E. Auldist
Affiliation:
Victorian Institute of Animal Science, Private Bag 7, Sneydes Road, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
L. Morrish
Affiliation:
Victorian Institute of Animal Science, Private Bag 7, Sneydes Road, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
P. Eason
Affiliation:
Victorian Institute of Animal Science, Private Bag 7, Sneydes Road, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
R. H. King
Affiliation:
Victorian Institute of Animal Science, Private Bag 7, Sneydes Road, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
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Abstract

Thirty sows were allocated at their first farrowing to five litter size treatments. Litter sizes of six, eight, 10,12 and 14 were established by cross-fostering within 48 h post partum. Milk yield (Y, kg/day) of sows was linearly related to litter size (L) and was described by the equations; Y = 5·98 (s.e. 0·48) + 0·689 (s.e. 0·046)L, R2 = 0·99; residual s.d. = 0·29; P < 0·001 and Y = 8·20 (s.e. 0·46) + 0·324 (s.e. 0·044)1, R2 = 0·95; residual s.d. = 0·28; P < 0·002 for early (day 10 to day 14) and late (day 24 to day 28) lactation, respectively. The composition of milk from sows suckling various litter sizes remained relatively stable but suckling frequency in early lactation increased linearly in response to increased litter size. Litter size significantly affected the average growth rate of individual piglets; piglet growth rate from birth to weaning at 28 days of age decreased from 283 g/day to 202 giday in response to increasing litter size from six to 14. The relationships between milk yield, average piglet growth rate and litter size indicate that the number of functional glands is the major factor influencing milk yield of sows. Increasing the number of functional glands by increasing litter size more than compensates for any decrease in milk output from individual glands.

Keywords

lactationlitter sizemilk yieldsows
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 67 , Issue 2 , October 1998 , pp. 333 - 337
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1998

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