Effect of phase feeding and valine-to-lysine ratio during lactation on sow and piglet performance1

Abstract

The potential of piglets to grow before weaning is greater than the sow can support, and as such, improving the performance of the lactating sow is a key driver of whole-farm efficiency. This study aimed to investigate the impact of 1) adopting a phased feeding approach during lactation and 2) the ratio of Val to Lys on sow and piglet performance. Multiparious sows ( = 109) were assigned to treatment at 108 d of gestation. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial design. Dietary treatments included 2 dietary regimes: "Flat" (14.4 MJ/kg DE diet offered for 28 d of lactation) or "Phased" (14.4 MJ/kg DE diet offered until d 14 of lactation followed by a second diet containing 15 MJ/kg DE offered from d 15 to 28 of lactation) and 2 Val:Lys ratios representing "Normal" (0.68:1) or "High" (1.1:1) ratios. A control diet was also offered that contained 13.5 MJ DE/kg, 8.8 g/kg total Lys, and 6.6 g/kg total Val. Treatment had no effect on sow backfat depth, BCS, or weight change during lactation. Compared with control sows, sows offered either the Flat or Phased dietary regime at both levels of Val:Lys ratio weaned, on average, 9 kg extra in litter weight at 28 d ( = 0.006). Dietary regime or Val:Lys ratio had no effect on sow blood urea nitrogen levels at 21 d. A Val:Lys ratio of 1.1:1 increased milk fat at 7, 21, and 28 d ( < 0.05) but increased backfat loss at weaning ( = 0.03). In conclusion, a diet containing 14.4 MJ/kg DE and 0.92 g Lys/kg (the Flat Val:Lys ratio) at an average feed intake of 7.7 kg/d enabled sows to wean 13 piglets to an average weight of 8.6 kg at 28 d.

The Effect of Dietary Oil Type and Energy Intake in Lactating Sows on the Fatty Acid Profile of Colostrum and Milk, and Piglet Growth to Weaning

“…Therefore, the effect of maternal diet on milk production increases as lactation progresses [40]. Previous research on increasing sow milk yield by increasing dietary energy density was not successful [41]. Similarly, in the present study, increasing sow energy intake in late lactation did not increase sow milk yield as measured indirectly from piglet growth, with sow milk yield appearing to plateau on day 14, which is in agreement with previous research [41].…”

“…Previous research on increasing sow milk yield by increasing dietary energy density was not successful [41]. Similarly, in the present study, increasing sow energy intake in late lactation did not increase sow milk yield as measured indirectly from piglet growth, with sow milk yield appearing to plateau on day 14, which is in agreement with previous research [41]. In the present study, the fatty acid composition of milk at day 21 of lactation, as well as of piglet plasma and tissues at weaning were affected by dietary energy density.…”

Nitrogen utilization of lactating sows fed increasing dietary protein1

“…In the current study, sows had a mean litter gain of 3.25 kg/d, emphasizing that the lactation performance is really high in modern hyper prolific sows. In line with that, Thingnes et al (2012) and Craig et al (2016) reported a daily litter gain of 3.12 and 3.24 kg/d, respectively. For comparison, daily litter gain is normally considerably lower in sows with less suckling piglets (10 to 12 littermates), and the productivity of these sows are typically 2.3 kg/d to 2.7 kg/d (e.g., Huber et al, 2015 andGreiner et al, 2018).…”

Optimal crude protein in diets supplemented with crystalline amino acids fed to high-yielding lactating sows1

“…However, the previous recommendations were based on few studies. In agreement with the current study, previous literature have proven that SID Val:Lys-ratios at 65%-70% does not compromise sow productivity (Paulicks et al, 2003;Craig et al, 2016;Højgaard et al, 2019).…”