Effect of Dietary Energy Intake during Lactation on Performance of Primiparous Sows and their Litters

Abstract

A total of 146 primiparous sows was used in four replications of an experiment to investigate the effect of energy intake during a 28-d lactation on sow and litter performance. Dietary treatments consisted of three energy intakes; 10, 12 or 14 Meal of metabolizable energy (ME) 9 sow-1. d -t. All sows were fed equal amounts of crude protein, vitamins and minerals daily, which met or exceeded standard recommendations. The experiment was initiated at parturition. Sow weight and backfat loss during lactation decreased linearly (P<.O01) as energy intake increased. There were no differences in litter size at either 14 d of lactation or weaning. Pig weights on d 14 increased linearly (P<.05) and litter weights tended to increase linearly (P=.13) as energy intake increased. At weaning, pig weights and litter weights increased (P<.05) as sow energy intake increased. There were no significant differences in the percentages of sows in estrus by 7, 14, 21 and 70 d postweaning, but sows fed 10 Meal ME/d had a slightly longer interval from weaning to first estrus than sows fed higher energy intakes. Serum urea concentrations of sows were inversely related to energy intake during lactation. Serum creatinine concentrations were not affected by energy intake. An intake of 10 Meal ME/d by primiparous sows during a 28-d lactation resulted in reduced sow and litter performance; there was little difference between sows fed 12 and 14 Meal ME/d.

Feeding lactating primiparous sows to establish three divergent metabolic states: I. Associated endocrine changes and postweaning reproductive performance.

“…Hence, almost all of the additional nutrients available to the sows were directed toward tissue anabolism (see Clowes et al, 1998 for further discussion) and could have potentially ameliorated any inhibitory effects of lactational catabolism on reproductive performance. Consistent with the data reported by Nelssen et al (1985), Mullan and Williams (1989), and Koketsu et al (1996), restriction of feed intake during lactation seemed to decrease litter weight at weaning and extended the weaning-to-estrus interval (Reese et al, 1982;Mullan and Williams, 1989). Despite the increase in body weight and backfat during lactation, the fertility of SA sows was not different from that of Table 3.…”

Effect of Protein and Energy Intake by Primiparous Sows During Lactation on Sow and Litter Performance and Sow Serum Thyroxine and Urea Concentrations

“…The data of the present experiment agree with previously reported effects of energy restriction (Adam and Shearer, 1975;Reese et al, 1982a,b;Nelssen et al, 1985), and of protein restriction (Mahan and Mangan, 1975;Greenhalgh et al, 1977;NCR-42, 1978) during lactation on sow performance. King and Williams (1984b) found weight changes during lactation (average length 32 d) to be --35.8, -32.5, -29.8 and -3.9 kg for LE-LP, HE-LP, LE-HP and HE-HP treatments, respectively, whereas the corresponding sow weight changes in our experiment were -26.1, -18.0, -20.0 and -3.7 kg.…”

“…Sows that were fed HP had higher (P = .037) concentrations of serum urea than sows fed LP at the time of return to estrus, but energy had no effect on urea concentration. Reese et al (1982a,b) and Nelssen et al (1985) used serum urea as an index to determine the extent of amino acid catabolism, with the assumption that concentration of serum urea is positively correlated with amino acid catabolism. The data reported herein indicate that amino acid catabolism was greater in sows fed HP than LP, and also was greater in sows fed LE than HE.…”

“…In particular, there is often a long period between weaning and the initiation of estrous cycles. Reese et al (1982a,b) and Nelssen et al (1985) have reported that low energy intakes during lactation prolong the interval from weaning to first estrus in primiparous sows. Others (O'Grady and Hanrahan, 1975;Walker et al, 1979) 4 To whom reprint requests should be addressed.…”

Energia digestível em rações para porcas primíparas em lactação

“…Redução na perda de peso da porca durante a lactação em razão do aumento no consumo de energia digestível foi observada por Nelssen et al (1985), ao avaliarem um aumento do consumo de energia digestível de 10.000kcal de ED/dia a 14.000kcal de ED/dia, e por Armstrong et al (1986), que constataram terem perdido 7,8kg as porcas que se alimentaram à vontade (12.190kcal de EM/dia), enquanto aquelas submetidas à restrição energética (8.140kcal de EM/dia) perderam mais peso (14,3kg) durante os 21 dias de lactação.…”