Carry-over effect of feeding level in late gestation on subsequent milk yield in sows

TY - CONF

T1 - Carry-over effect of feeding level in late gestation on subsequent milk yield in sows

AU - Feyera, Takele

N1 - Conference code: 11

PY - 2023/6/19

Y1 - 2023/6/19

N2 - Mammary glands growth and development is rapid during late gestation in sows and feeding level during this period likely affects these traits, and thereby influence sow milk yield in the subsequent lactation. This study investigated the carry-over effect of feeding level in late gestation on subsequent feed intake, milk yield and litter performance in a dose-response design. Forty-eight sows were assigned to six feeding levels (1.8, 2.4, 3.1, 3.7, 4.3 and 5.0 kg/d) from day 108 of gestation until farrowing. All sows were fed a standard lactation diet throughout the subsequent lactation. Litters were standardized to 14 piglets within 36 h after birth, and weighed once weekly until weaning on day 24 of lactation. Data were analysed on weekly basis using the MIXED procedure of SAS including feeding level and parity as fixed effects. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts were used to evaluate the linear, quadratic and cubic effects of feeding level in late gestation on the response variables. Sows on the lowest (P < 0.001) and the highest (P = 0.003) feeding levels in late gestation had both lower feed intake (3.96 and 4.07 kg/d, respectively) in the first week of lactation than those received intermediate feeding levels (4.44 kg/d), but the overall mean lactation feed intake was not affected by the feed intake in late gestation. Overall mean milk yield was higher in sows’ fed 3.7 kg/d (milk yield = 14.2) than those fed 1.8 kg/d (milk yield = 11.6; P = 0.001) and 2.4 kg/d (milk yield = 12.8 kg; P = 0.07). The quadratic contrast estimated 4.2 kg/d as the optimal feeding level in late gestation for maximizing milk yield the subsequent lactation. Litter growth in the second week (P = 0.006) and the overall mean during lactation (P = 0.04) were lower when sows were fed the lowest level (1.8 kg/d) in late gestation as compared with the remaining groups. In conclusion, insufficient feeding level in late gestation negatively affected subsequent milk yield and litter growth performance without affecting the overall mean lactation feed intake of the sows. This effect was presumably caused by feeding below the maintenance requirement, thus speculated to impair udder development prior to lactation.

AB - Mammary glands growth and development is rapid during late gestation in sows and feeding level during this period likely affects these traits, and thereby influence sow milk yield in the subsequent lactation. This study investigated the carry-over effect of feeding level in late gestation on subsequent feed intake, milk yield and litter performance in a dose-response design. Forty-eight sows were assigned to six feeding levels (1.8, 2.4, 3.1, 3.7, 4.3 and 5.0 kg/d) from day 108 of gestation until farrowing. All sows were fed a standard lactation diet throughout the subsequent lactation. Litters were standardized to 14 piglets within 36 h after birth, and weighed once weekly until weaning on day 24 of lactation. Data were analysed on weekly basis using the MIXED procedure of SAS including feeding level and parity as fixed effects. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts were used to evaluate the linear, quadratic and cubic effects of feeding level in late gestation on the response variables. Sows on the lowest (P < 0.001) and the highest (P = 0.003) feeding levels in late gestation had both lower feed intake (3.96 and 4.07 kg/d, respectively) in the first week of lactation than those received intermediate feeding levels (4.44 kg/d), but the overall mean lactation feed intake was not affected by the feed intake in late gestation. Overall mean milk yield was higher in sows’ fed 3.7 kg/d (milk yield = 14.2) than those fed 1.8 kg/d (milk yield = 11.6; P = 0.001) and 2.4 kg/d (milk yield = 12.8 kg; P = 0.07). The quadratic contrast estimated 4.2 kg/d as the optimal feeding level in late gestation for maximizing milk yield the subsequent lactation. Litter growth in the second week (P = 0.006) and the overall mean during lactation (P = 0.04) were lower when sows were fed the lowest level (1.8 kg/d) in late gestation as compared with the remaining groups. In conclusion, insufficient feeding level in late gestation negatively affected subsequent milk yield and litter growth performance without affecting the overall mean lactation feed intake of the sows. This effect was presumably caused by feeding below the maintenance requirement, thus speculated to impair udder development prior to lactation.

KW - milk production

KW - nutrition

KW - transition period

M3 - Poster

SP - 175

EP - 176

T2 - 11th International conference on pig production

Y2 - 4 June 2023 through 7 June 2023

ER -