Journal of Animal Science, Vol 76, Issue 7 1729-1737, Copyright © 1998 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Body composition at farrowing and nutrition during lactation affect the performance of primiparous sows: I. Voluntary feed intake, weight loss, and plasma metabolites

D. K. Revell, I. H. Williams, B. P. Mullan, J. L. Ranford and R. J. Smits
Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands.

We used 35 primiparous sows to investigate the link between body fatness at farrowing and voluntary feed intake (VFI) during lactation. Two groups of sows were fed differently throughout gestation (either 2.3 kg/d of a diet containing 5.8% CP and 14.6 MJ DE/kg as fed or 1.7 kg/d of a diet containing 15.6% CP and 14.5 MJ DE/kg as fed) so that they commenced lactation at a similar body weight (158 to 152 kg) but with different body compositions: either 340 (fat) or 280 (lean) g of body fat/kg BW (P < .001). During lactation, sows were offered either a low-protein diet (7.9% CP and 15.5 MJ DE/kg as fed) or a high-protein diet (19.0% CP and 15.6 MJ DE/kg as fed) on an ad libitum basis. During lactation, VFI was measured daily, and sow body weight and backfat were measured weekly. Blood samples were collected from sows on d 110 of gestation and d 14 and 28 of lactation, and plasma was analyzed for NEFA, glycerol, insulin, glucose, and beta-hydroxybutyrate. Fat sows ate 30% less than their lean counterparts during lactation (P < .001), which corresponded to a 70% higher concentration of NEFA in plasma (P = .01) and a 30% higher concentration of glycerol (P = .15). The VFI during the first 2 wk of lactation was affected only by body fatness and not by the protein content of the lactation diet. The dietary supply of protein influenced VFI during wk 3 and 4 of lactation, possibly by affecting milk production and hence the drive to consume feed. Weight loss, particularly lean tissue loss, was minimized by feeding the high-protein diet during lactation (P < .002).

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Bergsma, E. Kanis, M. W. A. Verstegen, and E. F. Knol Genetic parameters and predicted selection results for maternal traits related to lactation efficiency in sows J Anim Sci, May 1, 2008; 86(5): 1067 - 1080. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Ji, G. Wu, J. R. Blanton Jr., and S. W. Kim Changes in weight and composition in various tissues of pregnant gilts and their nutritional implications J Anim Sci, February 1, 2005; 83(2): 366 - 375. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. G. Young, M. D. Tokach, F. X. Aherne, R. G. Main, S. S. Dritz, R. D. Goodband, and J. L. Nelssen Effect of sow parity and weight at service on target maternal weight and energy for gain in gestation J Anim Sci, January 1, 2005; 83(1): 255 - 261. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. C. van der Peet-Schwering, B. Kemp, G. P. Binnendijk, L. A. den Hartog, P. F. G. Vereijken, and M. W. A. Verstegen Effects of additional starch or fat in late-gestating high nonstarch polysaccharide diets on litter performance and glucose tolerance in sows J Anim Sci, October 1, 2004; 82(10): 2964 - 2971. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. G. Young, M. D. Tokach, F. X. Aherne, R. G. Main, S. S. Dritz, R. D. Goodband, and J. L. Nelssen Comparison of three methods of feeding sows in gestation and the subsequent effects on lactation performance J Anim Sci, October 1, 2004; 82(10): 3058 - 3070. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. L. McPherson, F. Ji, G. Wu, J. R. Blanton Jr., and S. W. Kim Growth and compositional changes of fetal tissues in pigs J Anim Sci, September 1, 2004; 82(9): 2534 - 2540. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. C. van der Peet-Schwering, B. Kemp, J. G. Plagge, P. F. G. Vereijken, L. A. den Hartog, H. A. M. Spoolder, and M. W. A. Verstegen Performance and individual feed intake characteristics of group-housed sows fed a nonstarch polysaccharides diet ad libitum during gestation over three parities J Anim Sci, April 1, 2004; 82(4): 1246 - 1257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. L. Gatford, J. M. Boyce, K. Blackmore, R. J. Smits, R. G. Campbell, and P. C. Owens Long-term, but not short-term, treatment with somatotropin during pregnancy in underfed pigs increases the body size of progeny at birth J Anim Sci, January 1, 2004; 82(1): 93 - 101. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. C. van der Peet-Schwering, B. Kemp, G. P. Binnendijk, L. A. den Hartog, H. A. M. Spoolder, and M. W. A. Verstegen Performance of sows fed high levels of nonstarch polysaccharides during gestation and lactation over three parities J Anim Sci, September 1, 2003; 81(9): 2247 - 2258. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. J. Clowes, F. X. Aherne, A. L. Schaefer, G. R. Foxcroft, and V. E. Baracos Parturition body size and body protein loss during lactation influence performance during lactation and ovarian function at weaning in first-parity sows J Anim Sci, June 1, 2003; 81(6): 1517 - 1528. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Eissen, E. J. Apeldoorn, E. Kanis, M. W. A. Verstegen, and K. H. de Greef The importance of a high feed intake during lactation of primiparous sows nursing large litters J Anim Sci, March 1, 2003; 81(3): 594 - 603. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]