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Effect of increasing sow feeding level in late gestation on piglet quality and sow body condition
The objective was to determine the effect of increasing feeding level in late gestation on piglet quality and sow body condition. Parity 2 PIC Landrace × Large White sows (n=67) were randomly assigned to one of two feeding levels (1.82 or 2.73 kg) from 100 d of gestation until farrowing. Gestation diets were formulated to 0.68% total lysine and 2,979 kcal ME per kg. All other nutrients met or exceeded NRC (2012) requirements. Housing consisted of individual gestation stalls with ad libitum access to water and natural ventilation. Sow body condition was monitored at the last rib with the sow body condition caliper. Sows farrowed near Plymouth, NC in late June of 2015. Piglets were individually weighed and identified within 1 d of birth and at 21 d of age. All reproductive traits were calculated as those of the biological dam. Feeding level did not impact (P≥0.44) total number born (13.05 vs. 13.08), total litter birth weight (14.8 vs. 14.7 kg), average piglet birth weight (1.16 vs. 1.16 kg) or birth weight CV (20.0 vs. 21.2%). In comparison to the 1.82 kg feeding level, the 2.73 kg feeding level improved (P≥0.15) litter size at weaning (9.14 vs. 9.71), litter weaning weight (50.6 vs. 55.5 kg), average weaning weight (5.57 vs. 5.82 kg), weaning weight CV (21.3 vs. 18.7%) and piglet survival (71.8 vs. 73.6%) and tended (P=0.10) to increase the number of piglets (8.56 vs. 9.59) weighing greater than 3.2 kg at weaning. Across both treatments sows lost (P<0.01) body condition from 100 d of gestation to farrowing and from farrowing to weaning (caliper scores of 14.5, 13.1 and 11.1, respectively). When compared to the 1.82 kg feeding level, sows fed 2.73 kg in late gestation lost less (P=0.33) body condition from 100 d of gestation to farrowing and less (P=0.02) body condition from 100 d of gestation to weaning. Results indicate increasing feeding level in late gestation does not increase piglet birth weight but would improve sow body condition at weaning and may increase the number of quality weaned piglets.
Keywords: feed intake, gestation, sow