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EFFECTS OF SUGAR BEET PULP ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF GESTATION SOWS
Sugar beet pulp is widely used as feed ingredient in dairy feeds. However, its use in sow feeds may benefit sows because of its high level of fiber. The purpose of the study was to investigate the use of sugar beet pulp to see if there is any benefits for gestation sows fed sugar beet pulp. One hundred gestation sows were divided into 3 treatments with 33, 34, and 33 sows per treatment, they were fed diets containing 0, 7.5, or 15% of sugar beet pulp at breeding, respectively, for 3 months. The diets contained the same calculated levels of crude protein and digestible energy. On day 91, they were fed the same lactating sow diets for another 25 days until farrowing. Total number of pigs born were 12.48±2.44, 12.28±2.21, and 13.24±2.26 for sows fed diets containing 0, 7.5, or 15% of sugar beet pulp, respectively; Total pigs born live weight were 17.66±2.87 kg, 17.86±3.82 kg, and 18.45±2.98 kg, for sows fed diets containing 0, 7.5, or 15% of sugar beet pulp, respectively. There were no significant differences in total pigs born and total pigs born live weight among all treatments (P=0.063). Total number of pigs born alive were 11.76±2.23, 12.00±2.08, and 13.05±2.40, for sows fed diets containing 0, 7.5, or 15% of sugar beet pulp, respectively; total number of pigs born alive were significantly increased (P<0.032) by supplementing 15% sugar beet pulp into gestation sow diets as compared to control sow diets.
Keywords: Sugar beet pulp, gestation sows, reproductive performance.