J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1983. 57:292-295.
© 1983 American Society of Animal Science
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A Comparison of an 8- versus 16-Hour Photoperiod during Lactation on Suckling Frequency of the Baby Pig and Maternal Performance of the Sow1

J. W. Mabry2, M. T. Coffey3 and R. W. Seerley2

University of Georgia, Athens 30602

Abstract

Seventeen crossbred sows were used in a lactation trial to compare the effects of a 16-h photoperiod with an 8-h photoperiod from d 107 of gestation to weaning at 28 d postpartum. Crossbred sows were used to compare the effects of 16-h (n = 8) and 8-h (n = 9) photoperiods on litter and maternal performance traits. Females were moved into two identical farrowing rooms under either 16- or 8-h photoperiods on d 107 of pregnancy, litters were equalized across treatments at birth and the treatments terminated at weaning on d 28 postpartum. Traits evaluated included litter size at birth and weaning, 21-d pig and litter weights, milk yield and composition on d 15, litter survival rates, suckling frequency for a 24-h period on d 13 and percentage of sows returning to estrus and days to estrus after weaning. Pigs exposed to 16 h light nursed more often (P<.05) than pigs exposed to 8 h light over a 24-h period. This advantage was greatest during the 4-h periods of 1200 to 2000, 0000 to 0400 and 0800 to 1200 h. This difference is perhaps an explanation of why litters exposed to 16 h light weaned more (P<.05) pigs/litter with heavier (P<.01) 21-d litter weights. Nonsignificant advantages were also seen in milk yield and litter survival percentage. In addition, sows exposed to 16 h light had higher (P<.05) total solids content of their milk.

Footnotes

1 This research was supported by State and Hatch funds allocated to the Georgia Agr. Exp. Sta.

2 Dept. of Anim. and Dairy Sci.

3 Present address: Dept. of Anim. Sci., 2103 McCarty Hall, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville 32611.






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Copyright © 1983 by the American Society of Animal Science.