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Evaluation of Dietary Calcium and Phosphorus for Reproducing Sows Housed in Total Confinement on Concrete or in Dirt Lots

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,^,3 Blacksburg 24061 and and Holland 23391

Abstract

One-Hundred and nine crossbred gilts which had been raised in total confinement on concrete were used for five gestation-lactation (G-L) cycles in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of the following treatments: 10.3 and 11.0 vs. 15.5 and 15.0 g daily of Ca and total P, respectively (analyzed); total confinement on concrete vs. dirt lots during breeding and gestation; group vs. individual feeding during breeding and gestation. A corn-soybean meal diet fortified with vitamins and the appropriate minerals was fed at a level of 1.8 or 2.3 kg per day. A greater number of sows (70.4%) fed the high Ca and P level completed five G-L cycles as compared to sows fed the low Ca and P level (56.4%). The mating rate (mated/started), farrowing rate (farrowed/started) and conception rate (farrowed/mated) were higher for sows fed the high Ca and P level during all G-L cycles with the exception of G-L cycle 5 as compared to sows fed the low Ca and P levels. A higher percentage (70.1 vs. 55.1) of the sows housed in dirt lots completed the five G-L cycles as compared to sows housed on concrete. In general the mating, conception and farrowing rates were lower for sows housed on concrete as compared to sows kept in dirt lots during all G-L cycles with the exception of conception rate in G-L cycle four and mating rate in G-L cycle five. Farrowing and weaning performance was not significantly different between sows fed the high or low Ca and P level or between sows housed in total confinement on concrete or in dirt lots. Sow serum Ca and inorganic P levels; sow metacarpal ash Ca and total P levels; pig serum Ca and inorganic P; pig turbinate, rib, tibia and kidney Ca and total P levels; pig rib specific gravity; pig tibia ash, and pig femur breaking strength were not significantly different among the various treatments. There were no significant differences between individual and group fed sows for the various criteria measured.

¹ Department of Animal Science.

² Tidewater Research and Continuing Education Center.

³ Appreciation is expressed to Mr. Charles Babb for caring for animals, to Mr. Peter Gati and Mrs. Kathy Kluender for analytical analysis, to Dr. C. Y. Kramer for statistical analysis and to the Virginia Pork Industry Commission for financial support.