title: An increased feed intake during early pregnancy improves sow body weight recovery and increases litter size in young sows.
abstract: This study evaluated the effect of feeding level and protein content in feed in first- and second-parity sows during the first month of gestation on sow BW recovery, farrowing rate, and litter size during the first month of gestation. From d 3 to 32 after the first insemination, sows were fed either 2.5 kg/d of a standard gestation diet (control, n = 49), 3.25 kg/d (+30%) of a standard gestation diet (plus feed, n = 47), or 2.5 kg/d of a gestation diet with 30% greater ileal digestible AA (plus protein, n = 49). Feed intake during the experimental period was 29% greater for sows in the plus feed group compared with those in the control and plus protein groups (93 vs. 72 kg, P < 0.05). Sows in the plus feed group gained 10 kg more BW during the experimental period compared with those in the control and plus protein groups (24.2 ± 1.2 vs. 15.5 ± 1.2 and 16.9 ± 1.2 kg, respectively, P < 0.001). Backfat gain and loin muscle depth gain were not affected by treatment (P = 0.56 and P = 0.37, respectively). Farrowing rate was smaller, although not significantly, for sows in the plus feed group compared with those in the control and plus protein groups (76.6% vs. 89.8 and 89.8%, respectively, P = 0.16). Litter size, however, was larger for sows in the plus feed group (15.2 ± 0.5 total born) compared with those in the control and plus protein groups (13.2 ± 0.4 and 13.6 ± 0.4 total born, respectively, P = 0.006). Piglet birth weight was not different among treatments (P = 0.65). For both first- and second-parity sows, the plus feed treatment showed similar effects on BW gain, farrowing rate, and litter size. In conclusion, an increased feed intake (+30%) during the first month of gestation improved sow BW recovery and increased litter size, but did not significantly affect farrowing rate in the subsequent parity. Feeding a 30% greater level of ileal digestible AA during the same period did not improve sow recovery or reproductive performance in the subsequent parity.
authors.affiliation: Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands. Lia.Hoving@varkenski.nl
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Hoving
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Soede
authors.forename: C M C
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van der Peet-Schwering
authors.forename: E A M
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Graat
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feitsma
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kemp
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008098:Litter Size / Q000502:physiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*