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The evaluation of increasing lysine or feed amounts in late gestation on piglet birth weights
Camborough PIC sows (n=255) were fed either increasing lysine levels or feeding amounts to determine the influence on piglet birth weight. Gestating sows (56 sows per pen) were fed with electronic sow feeding stations and had a body condition score of 3.00–3.25 on a 1-5 scale. One diet per pen was fed to minimize diet cross-over. Litters were weighed within 16 hours of birth. Sows were weighed at the initiation of the study, d 112 of gestation. Post-farrowing weight was calculated using a BW equation based on d 112 gestation weight. Data were analyzed using a randomized complete block design and treatment as the fixed effect, as well as, pairwise contrasts. In study one, females were fed one of two treatments (Control – 1.8 kg/d of feed (9 g SID lysine/d intake) or Bump – Control diet fed at 2.7 kg/d (14 g SID lysine/d)). P2 females were housed separately and were fed either Control (24 sows) or Bump (17 sows) diets for two weeks due to pen allowance. P3+ females were fed diets for a period of 3 weeks (40 Control and 45 Bump sows). For P3+ sows fed the Bump, 48-hr post farrow BW was higher (P = 0.02). Average piglet weight was not different (1.28 vs 1.31 kg; P > 0.10). For the P2 females, average piglet weight (P > 0.10) and 48 hr post-farrow body weight (181.8 vs 189.7 kg; P > 0.10) was not different between treatments. Since there was no effect on bump feeding sows, primiparous females were fed one of three diets (Control – 1.8 kg/d (9 g SID lysine/d, 53 gilts); Bump – control diet fed at 2.7 kg/d (14 g SID lysine/d, 30 gilts); or High – 1.8 kg/d (13.5 g SID lysine/d, 46 gilts)) for three weeks pre-farrow to determine the impact of different feeding programs on gilt litter performance in study two. The Bump had lighter piglets at birth compared to the Control (1.12 vs 1.24 kg; P = 0.04). However, this was likely due to the higher total born, which was not attributed to treatment (14.07 vs 12.66 pigs). The High did not produce heavier piglets compared to the Control (1.28 vs 1.24; P > 0.10) or reduce the percentage of <0.90 kg pigs (10.11 vs 11.32%; P > 0.10). Feeding increased Lys levels or additional feed to gestating animals in good body condition did not result in improved piglet birth weight.
Keywords: gestation, lysine, sow