Effect of feeding frequency and sow parity based on isocaloric intake during gestation on sow performance.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding frequency and sow parity based on same rate of maintenance energy intake during gestation on sow performance. One hundred and seventy-seven sows [Topigs Norsvin 70, Landrace × Large White, Topigs Norsvin USA, Burnsville, MN; parity 3.80 ± 0.16; initial BW = 211.34 ± 3.37 kg; backfat (BF) 13.57 ± 0.54 mm] were blocked by parity, balanced for BW, and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments in a randomized complete block design. Treatments included sows fed corn-soybean meal-based diet 1× daily at 0730 h (control, T1), 2× daily [half ration at 0730 and 1530 h (T2)], or 3× daily [a third portion at 0730, 1130, and 1530 h (T3)], with daily feed quantity kept at 1.25 × maintenance energy intake [100 × (BW)0.75] kcal ME/d. Treatments were imposed from day 30 of gestation. Sows received on average 6,921, 7,129, and 7,399 kcal ME/d from days 30 to 60, days 61 to 90, days 91 to 109 of gestation, respectively. Feeding frequency during gestation had no effect on lactation ADFI (P > 0.10). Sows fed 3× daily during gestation had improved lactation G:F (P = 0.040) compared with sows fed 2× but similar to control sows (P = 0.338). Treatment did not alter BW or BW variations during gestation, lactation, or from days 30 to wean (P > 0.10). Sows fed 2× daily had tendency to gain BF from day 30 to day 109 of gestation (P = 0.053) but tended to lose BF during lactation (P = 0.091) relative to the control sows. Feeding frequency (2× and 3× daily) tended to increase the number of piglets weaned by 0.40 (P = 0.056) and 0.53 (P = 0.098) piglets, respectively, compared with control sows. Sows fed 2× daily during gestation had reduced number of stillborn relative to control sows (P = 0.035). From day 30 to wean, gilts had propensity to lose BF relative to P1+ (P = 0.094), but lost BF compared with P3+ and P6+ sows (P = 0.003). Parity P6+ sows had highest percentage of both 72 h and preweaning piglet mortality than P0, P1+, and P3+ sows (P < 0.05). In conclusion, parity (P6+) had greater lactation BW gain but higher mortalities relative to lower parity sows. Sows fed 2× daily tended to gain BF from days 30 to 109 of gestation and had reduced number of stillborn relative to control sows. It appears that increasing gestation sow feeding frequency from 1× daily to 2× and 3× daily may reduce the number of stillborn and increase litter size at weaning although most of the reproductive traits were not affected.

Effects of time of feeding during gestation on sow's performance1.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different feeding time regimes given similar energy intake per kilogram live BW0.75 during gestation on sow's performance. One hundred and seventy-four sows [Topigs TN 70 (Landrace × Large White, Topigs USA); parity 3.81 ± 0.16; initial BW = 211.57 ± 3.34 kg; backfat (BF) 13.70 ± 0.42 mm] were blocked by parity, farrowing date, balanced for BW and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments in a randomized complete block design. Treatments included sows fed corn-soybean meal-based diet once at [0730 (control, T1), 1130 (T2), or 1530 h (T3)], with daily feed quantity kept at 1.25× maintenance energy intake [100 × (BW)0.75] kcal ME/d. Sows received 6,758, 7,434, and 8,110 kcal ME/d from days 30 to 60, days 61 to 90, days 91 to 109 of gestation, respectively. The gestation diet was formulated to contain 3,379 kcal of ME/kg, 0.70% Ca, 0.61% total P, 0.58% SID Lys, 0.26% SID Met, 0.45% SID Thr, 0.12% SID Trp, and 0.48% SID Met+Cys. Body weight and BF were recorded on days 30, 60, 90, and 109 of gestation, 24 h after farrowing and at weaning. Results showed that feeding times evaluated did not alter BW changes from day 30 to day 109 of gestation (P = 0.81) or from day 30 to weaning (P = 0.87). Similarly, feeding sows daily at 1130 h did not influence BF gains and sow reproductive performance relative to the control sows (P > 0.10). Sows fed once daily at 1530 h gained more BF compared with the control (3.69 ± 0.47 vs. 2.12 ± 0.50 mm, P = 0.04) from day 30 to day 109 of gestation. From day 30 of gestation to weaning, treatments did not influence BF gain (P = 0.24). Feeding sows daily meal at 1530 h had propensity to increase (P = 0.09) the number of piglets weaned by 0.54 piglets compared with the control sows. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that feeding pregnant sows at 1530 h altered energy and nutrient metabolism improving their BF gain and exhibited a potential to increase the number of weaned piglets compared with conventional feeding regime.