Body composition at farrowing and nutrition during lactation affect the performance of primiparous sows: I. Voluntary feed intake, weight loss, and plasma metabolites.

Abstract

We used 35 primiparous sows to investigate the link between body fatness at farrowing and voluntary feed intake (VFI) during lactation. Two groups of sows were fed differently throughout gestation (either 2.3 kg/d of a diet containing 5.8% CP and 14.6 MJ DE/kg as fed or 1.7 kg/d of a diet containing 15.6% CP and 14.5 MJ DE/kg as fed) so that they commenced lactation at a similar body weight (158 to 152 kg) but with different body compositions: either 340 (fat) or 280 (lean) g of body fat/kg BW (P < .001). During lactation, sows were offered either a low-protein diet (7.9% CP and 15.5 MJ DE/kg as fed) or a high-protein diet (19.0% CP and 15.6 MJ DE/kg as fed) on an ad libitum basis. During lactation, VFI was measured daily, and sow body weight and backfat were measured weekly. Blood samples were collected from sows on d 110 of gestation and d 14 and 28 of lactation, and plasma was analyzed for NEFA, glycerol, insulin, glucose, and beta-hydroxybutyrate. Fat sows ate 30% less than their lean counterparts during lactation (P < .001), which corresponded to a 70% higher concentration of NEFA in plasma (P = .01) and a 30% higher concentration of glycerol (P = .15). The VFI during the first 2 wk of lactation was affected only by body fatness and not by the protein content of the lactation diet. The dietary supply of protein influenced VFI during wk 3 and 4 of lactation, possibly by affecting milk production and hence the drive to consume feed. Weight loss, particularly lean tissue loss, was minimized by feeding the high-protein diet during lactation (P < .002).

Impact of feed restriction on the performance of highly prolific lactating sows and its effect on the subsequent lactation

“…Although milk production is relatively unaffected by marginal deficiencies in dietary protein and energy because sows are capable of mobilizing body protein and energy to supply amino acid and energy requirements for milk synthesis (Revell et al, 1998), severe protein and energy deficiency reduces milk production (Knabe et al, 1996;Jones and Stahly, 1999). When sows are not fed adequate amino acid and/or energy in the diet, nutrients from different body tissues, particularly skeletal muscles and fat are mobilized to supply milk production requirements.…”

Effect of N,N-dimethylglycine supplementation in parturition feed for sows on metabolism, nutrient digestibility and reproductive performance

“…During the last third of gestation, the sow's metabolic and hormonal state dramatically changes (Weldon et al, 1994a;Pere et al, 2000). Sows can become catabolic during the last month of gestation (Close et al, 1985), which was evidenced by increased concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glycerol in plasma (Revell et al, 1998). This is due to increased fetal demand and can lead to reduced appetite (Weldon et al, 1994a) and, in very rare cases, even to porcine ketosis (Alsop et al, 1994).…”

“…Overfeeding sows during late gestation and high back fat thickness at parturition predispose to several problems in the first few days post partum: low voluntary feed intake (Revell et al, 1998), higher catabolic rate (Hulten et al, 1993), increased NEFA mobilization and decreased insulin secretion (Weldon et al, 1994a). In this regard, it is important to consider not only the amount of energy but also the source from which the energy is derived.…”

Growth and development of offspring following supplementation of sow diets with oil during early to mid gestation

“…Although the nutrient demands of the conceptus are relatively small during the first half of gestation (Verstegen, 1987), it is likely that the development of placental membranes and subsequently the transfer of fatty acids across the placenta will be affected by the fatty acid profile of the maternal diet, which in turn will influence foetal development. It is widely accepted that energy demands during late gestation are greatly increased, and that catabolism of maternal fat reserves occurs if dietary energy supply is insufficient to meet requirements at this time (Close et al, 1985;Whittemore, 1998); increasing the energy intake of sows during the first half of gestation -E-mail: lynne.clark@imperial.ac.uk is likely to increase the amount of fat available for mobilisation during late pregnancy (Revell et al, 1998).…”

“…It is well established that the fatty acid composition of body fat reserves reflects that of the diet (Huo et al, 2003), and that fat deposition, in both pregnant and non-pregnant animals, is increased with increasing energy intake (Dunshea et al, 1998;Revell et al, 1998). Since maternal fat reserves are mobilised during late gestation and lactation (Mullan and Williams, 1990;Whittemore, 1998;Trottier and Johnston, 2001), it seems probable that the fatty acid composition of maternal fat reserves may have consequences for piglet growth and survival (Cieslak et al, 1983;Rooke et al, 2001b and c).…”