Impact of sow lactation feed intake on the growth and suckling behavior of low and average birthweight pigs to 10 weeks of age

Abstract

Improved genetics in commercial pig production have resulted in larger litter sizes. However this has increased the prevalence of compromised pigs exhibiting inferior birthweights, weaning weights, and lifetime performance. This study aimed to determine the effects of increased sow lactation feed intake on growth of low and average birthweight piglets until 10 wk of age. Low (Low BW; <1 kg) and average (Av BW; 1.3–1.7 kg) birthweight animals were reared in uniformly weighted litters comprising 14 piglets on a foster mother offered either a low (Low FA; max 7.5 kg/d) or high (High FA; max 11 kg/d) feed allowance over a 28- ± 1-d lactation. Piglet performance was monitored from birth until 10 wk of age. Sows offered a High FA consumed 42.4 kg more feed on average than those offered Low FA, resulting in a greater derived milk yield (P < 0.05). Animals of Av BW remained heavier than Low BW pigs throughout the trial (P < 0.05). Piglets reared by High FA sows were heavier at weeks 3, 4, 5, and 7 (P < 0.05) but not week 10 (P > 0.05). Growth rate of piglets relative to their birthweight was significantly greater for Low BW piglets than those of Av BW during lactation (P < 0.001). Piglets reared by sows offered a High FA expressed greater relative growth preweaning (P < 0.05); however, postweaning relative growth for piglets reared on sows offered a Low FA was greater (P < 0.05) suggesting compensatory growth. Neither birthweight nor sow feed allowance significantly affected preweaning mortality (P > 0.05). However, Low BW animals on sows with a High FA recorded half the preweaning mortality of Low BW pigs on sows with a Low FA. During week 1 of lactation, Av BW litters recorded a greater total suckling duration compared to Low BW litters (P < 0.05) but there was no difference in suckling frequency (P > 0.05). During week 3 of lactation, High FA litters displayed a significantly lower suckling frequency (P < 0.05) yet a greater total suckling duration (P < 0.001). Average daily gain was greater for Av BW pigs during weeks 4–7 (P < 0.001) but no difference was recorded between weeks 7 and 10 (P > 0.05). Average daily feed intake was greater for Av BW pigs throughout the nursery period (P < 0.05) but feed–conversion ratio did not differ compared to Low BW pens (P>0.05). In conclusion, offering sows a High FA increased weaning weight of all animals; however, birthweight was the major determinant of postweaning performance.

The seasonal effect on the performance of pigs reared in a backyard pig farm in Thailand: retrospective study

“…Growth performance during the suckling period is typically influenced by factors from sows (birth weight, milk yield and milk composition) and form piglets (milk intake) (White et al, 1984;Hawe et al, 2020;Hojgaard et al, 2020). However, our results showed that average birth weight was not different all year round.…”

Extrusion Technology of Soybeans and Obtained Product Feeding Effect on Lactating Sows and Their Offsprings Productivity

“…Furthermore, improved sow lactation nutrition can significantly reduce pre weaning mortality of low birth weight animals. This, in turn, will greatly increase the number of animals weaned, improving output and profitability at farm level [21]. Therefore, by weighing all litters at 21 days of age, sows' milk can be monitored.…”

Analysis of the causal structure of traits involved in sow lactation feed efficiency

“…Eissen et al [ 28 ] showed that litter weight gain increased as feed intake of the sows increased. Moreover, Hawe et al [ 29 ] estimated the effect of increasing sow feed intake on piglet growth and showed that better sow feeding during lactation can increase milk yields and piglet weaning weights. In our analyses using the IC algorithm, we observed a non-directed edge between dLFI and dLWG, which disappeared when HPD 95% were used instead of HPD intervals with smaller levels of probability content.…”