Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T02:28:41.451Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Responses of lactating sows to food level

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

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
Get access

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
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Adam, J. L. and Shearer, I. J. 1975. Effects on sow and litter performance of energy intake in lactation and feeding patterns after weaning. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture 3: 5562.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Danielsen, V. and Nielsen, H. E. 1984. The influence of different feeding levels on the performance of lactating sows. Proceedings of the 35th Meeting of the European Association of Animal Production, The Hague.Google Scholar
Elsley, F. W. H., Bannerman, M., Bathurst, E. V. J., Bracewell, A. G., Cunningham, J. M. M., Dodsworth, T. L., Dodds, P. A., Forbes, T. J. and Laird, R. 1969. The effect of level of feed intake in pregnancy and in lactation upon the productivity of sows. Animal Production 11: 225241.Google Scholar
King, R. H. and Dunkin, A. C. 1986. The effect of nutrition on the reproductive performance of first-litter sows. 3. The response to graded increases in food intake during lactation. Animal Production 42: 119125.Google Scholar
King, R. H. and Williams, I. H. 1984. The effect of nutrition on the reproductive performance of first-litter sows. 1. Feeding level during lactation, and between weaning and mating. Animal Production 38: 241247.Google Scholar
Lawes Agricultural Trust. 1977. Genstat V, Mark 4-01, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire.Google Scholar
O'Grady, J. F., Elsley, F. W. H., MacPherson, R. M. and McDonald, I. 1973. The response of lactating sows and their litters to different dietary energy allowances. 1. Milk yield and composition, reproductive performance of sows and growth rate of litters. Animal Production 17: 6574.Google Scholar
O'Grady, J. F., Elsely, F. W. H., MacPherson, R. M. and McDonald, I. 1975. The response of lactating sows and their litters to different dietary energy allowances. 2. Weight changes and carcass composition of sows. Animal Production 20: 257265.Google Scholar
Reese, D. E., Moser, B. D., Peo, E. R. Jnr, Lewis, A. J., Zimmerman, D. R., Kinder, J. E. and Stroup, W. W. 1982. Influence of energy intake during lactation on the interval from weaning to first estrus in sows. Journal of Animal Science 55: 590598.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Whittemore, C. T. and Elsley, F. W. H. 1976. Practical Pig Nutrition. Farming Press, Ipswich.Google Scholar
Whittemore, C. T., Franklin, M. F. and Pearce, B. S. 1980. Fat changes in breeding sows. Animal Production 31: 183190.Google Scholar
Whitemore, C. T., Taylor, A. G., Hillyer, G. M., Wilson, D. and Stamataris, C. 1984. Influence of body fat stores on reproductive performance of sows. Animal Production 38: 527 (Abstr.).Google Scholar