Milk production in crossbred sows (Large White x Landrace). Evolution and analysis of variation factors

Abstract

-Fifty-six lactations, 23 from primiparous Large White x Landrace sows and 33 from I I multiparous sows were controlled. Milk yield was estimated by weighing the piglets before and after sucklings throughout a 12-h period on days 7,14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 of lactation. Total milk yield and milk production per weaned piglet during a 6-week lactation period were 170.0 ± 48.8 kg and 29.4 ± 7.3 kg respectively for primiparous sows and 210.9 ± 33.6 kg and 26.9 ± 5.1 kg respectively for multiparous sows. In both groups, the peak of lactation was reached in the 3rd week and the lowest amount of milk was yielded during the 6th week (33.5 ± 14.3 kg and 23.3 ± 9.9 kg in primiparous sows and 43.3 ± 11.1 kg and 28.0 9.8 kg in multiparous sows). Milk production curve was fitted to a gamma function (R'-= 0.86 in primiparous and R 2 = 0.91 in multiparous sows). The season of farrowing had no significant influence (P > 0.05) on total milk yield and milk production per weaned piglet in primiparous sows. However, total milk yield was increased (P < 0.001) as a result of increased litter size. For each additional weaned piglet, total milk production increased 25 kg, whereas milk production per weaned piglet non-signiticantly decreased by 1.O1 kg (P < 0.2). For multiparous sows, total milk yield and milk production per weaned piglet were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by sow and by parity. In the lactation 4 the milk output was higher than in the lactation 2 and 3. Litter size at weaning did not affect the total milk yield; it affected the milk production per weaned piglet (P <

Short communication. Changes in the composition of sows’ milk between days 5 to 26 of lactation

“…The peak of lactation was observed at day 18 (7.56 kg). This result is in agreement with Daza et al (1999) and Etienne et al (2000).…”

Short communication. Lactation performance of Duroc gilts under the single farrowing production system

“…In other experiments where the gilts were mated with greater age and weight (7-8 months and 100-125 kg) the average daily milk production was higher than in our experiment (Noblet and Etienne, 1986;King et al, 1993;Daza et al, 1999a).…”