HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Johnson, C. W. Articles by Catron, D. V. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Johnson, C. W. Articles by Catron, D. V.

Thyroprotein for Lactating Sows^{1, 2,}

Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station,⁴ Ames

Abstract

Four experiments involving 283 litters were conducted to study the effect of thyroprotein on the milk production of sows as measured by nursing pig gains. Of the levels of thyroprotein tested (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg. per lb. of ration fed ad libitum) the 100-mg. level produced an increase (P<0.01) in gain of 0.56 lb. during the first week; this level did not affect the sows' heart rate, rectal temperature, respiration rate or feed consumption. The 50- and 200-mg. levels did not improve pig gains; the 200-mg. level increased rectal temperature and respiration rate.

Pigs nursing sows fed thyroprotein (100 mg./lb. of ration) gained more than the controls when weaned at 1, 2, 3 or 5 weeks of age. The increase in pig gains was accompanied by an average decrease in pig mortality of 0.32 pig per litter. Thyroprotein fed at the rate of 1.0 gram per day for the first three days after farrowing resulted in a depression in first week gains. Also, the withdrawal of thyroprotein on the 7th day post partum depressed pig gains during the subsequent week. There was no observed difference in the response whether thyroprotein supplementation started on the 110th day of gestation or at time of farrowing.

Sows fed thyroprotein lost an average of 5 lb. more weight from the 110th day of gestation to the 3rd day post partum, and 12 lb. more during a five-week nursing period than did their controls.

Analysis of milk samples did not show a difference in percent fat, solids, non-fat solids or alkaline phosphatase activity which could be attributed to ration treatment.

¹ Journal Paper No. J-3576 of the Iowa Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station. Project No. 959, Experiments 731, 766, 782 and 869.

² Acknowledgment is extended to Merck Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories, Rahway, New Jersey, and Agri-Tech, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, for grant-in-aid and materials which partially supported this research.

³ This paper is part of a thesis submitted by the senior author to the Graduate College, Iowa State College, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Nutrition.

⁴ Department of Animal Husbandry.