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2018) An overview of hourly rhythm of demand-feeding pattern by a controlled feeding system on productive performance of lactating sows during summerABSTRACT The present study investigated the impacts of the conventional feeder and free feeding time (FFT), and backfat thickness (<20 mm and !20 mm) on sows at farrowing to weaning during the summer season. A total of 56 crossbred sows were allotted to one of four treatments according to a 2 Â 2 factorial arrangement. Feeder type affected body weight changes (p < .01) and backfat losses (p < .05), and the body weight changes (p < .05) and backfat losses (p < .01) of sows were lower for those with <20 mm backfat thickness compared with those with !20 mm backfat thickness during the lactation period. Daily feed intake was greater in sows with lower backfat thickness (5.47 kg; p < .01) and sows in the FFT group (5.46 kg; p < .05). A greater average daily gain was observed in sows in the FFT group (p < .05). There were no effects of feeder type or backfat thickness on weaning-to-oestrus interval, blood urea nitrogen, glucose, triglyceride, creatinine, FSH and LH, or colostrum and milk composition for sows during lactation. There was a linear increase in the count of Lactobacillus spp. and coliforms in conventional feeders over time (p < .01). A linear increase was detected for acetic acid production in the conventional feeders over time (p < .01). Hence, it was concluded that controlling sows' feeding leads to improved feed intake for sows housed in hot ambient temperatures during the summer period. ARTICLE HISTORY

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of hot melt extrusion (HME) nano-iron as an alternative for the common ferrous sulfate on iron (Fe) bioavailability, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, and intestinal microbiota of weanling pigs. A total of 200 piglets (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) were randomly allotted to seven treatments on the basis of initial body weight (BW) and sex. Treatments were the INO100 (100 ppm Fe as FeSO 4 ), HME-Fe levels (50, 75, and 100 ppm nano-Fe as FeSO 4 ). ORG100 (100 ppm Fe as iron methionine). In phase 1, the HME50 pigs showed the lowest Fe content in feed and feces. Plasma Fe concentration was increased in HME100 and ORG100 pigs. In phase 2, there were significantly lower concentration of Fe in feed and feces of HME50 pigs ( p < 0.01). A lower Fe concentration in the plasma and liver were observed in HME50 pigs compared with HME100 pigs. Concentration of red blood cell (RBC) was the lowest ( p < 0.01) for HME50 pigs. During phase 2, the HME100, HME75, and ORG100 pigs showed a higher RBC and hemoglobin values compared with HME50 pigs. Digestibility of gross energy (GE) and crude protein (CP) were significantly higher in HME100 pigs compared with HME50 pigs. There was an increased ( p < 0.01) villus height in the duodenum and jejunum of HME100 pigs compared with HME50 pigs. It is concluded that dietary Fe does not improve growth performance of weanling pigs; however, increasing the dietary iron concentration in weanling piglets increased the RBC and hemoglobin. In addition, the potential ability of HME to be used at a lower level (HME75) was observed.

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This study investigated the litter performance of lactating sows fed nutrient‐dense diets with or without dextrose at farrowing to weaning, during the summer with an average room temperature of 28.4°C. A total of 60 (13 first parity, 13 second parity, 19 third parity, and 15 forth parity) cross‐bred sows were assigned to three treatments. The three treatments were: standard diet (ST), high nutrient diet (HN; ST + 3% higher energy and 18.0% protein), and high nutrient diet plus dextrose (HND; 3% higher energy, 18.0% protein, and 5% dextrose). BW loss was reduced in the HND sows compared with the ST sows during lactation. The HN and HND sows had a higher piglet and litter weight at weaning. Also, the HND sows had the highest post‐prandial insulin levels at weaning and the shortest weaning‐to‐service interval (WSI). Serum LH was higher in the HND sows than the ST sows. The milk fat level was higher in the HND sows compared with the ST sows, but similar to the HN sows. In conclusion, these results suggest that it is possible to increase the blood insulin response by supplementing dextrose to a high nutrient diet, thus, improving WSI interval and litter growth during heat stress.