J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1980. 51:294-299.
© 1980 American Society of Animal Science
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Long-Term Effects of Dietary Additions of Alfalfa and Tallow on Sow Reproductive Performance1

D. S. Pollmann, D. M. Danielson, M. A. Crenshaw and E. R. Peo, Jr.2

University of Nebraska, North Platte 69101

Abstract

Eighty-eight crossbred sows were used to evaluate the effects of including sun-cured alfalfa in gestation diets and tallow in lactation diets on reproductive performance for three successive reproductive cycles. Two pelleted gestation diets were fed: (1) no alfalfa and (2) 50% alfalfa. Both diets were fed at the rate of 6,000 kcal of ME/head/day for the first 90 days of gestation. Two lactation diets were fed, one containing no added tallow and the other 8% stabilized tallow. Lactation diets were initiated at approximately 90 days of gestation and fed at a rate of 2.72 kg/head/day until farrowing and offered ad libitum postpartum. A higher percentage of the sows fed the alfalfa treatment completed the three gestation-lactation cycles than did those fed the control diet. Although total pigs farrowed per litter did not differ significantly between treatments, a reduction (P<.05) in average birth weight was observed for the alfalfa-fed group. The number of pigs alive at 14 days was higher for the alfalfa-fed group (P<.05). Survival rate pooled over the three reproductive cycles was approximately 8% higher for sows fed alfalfa; the addition of tallow did not significantly improve survival rate. Sows fed alfalfa diets gained less (P<.05) during gestation than controls, but lactation diets did not affect maternal weight gains. Sows fed the tallow lactation diet consumed 6.8% less feed than the controls (P<.05), but total energy intake for both diets was similar.

Footnotes

1 Published as paper no. 5869, Journal Series, Nebraska Agr. Exp. Sta.

2 Dept. of Anim. Sci. Acknowledgment is made to Debbie Koester and Alice Teter for their assistance in preparation of the manuscript.






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Copyright © 1980 by the American Society of Animal Science.