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ANIMAL PRODUCTION |
* Station de Recherches Zootechniques, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), 97170 Petit Bourg, Guadeloupe, F.W.I, France;
and
Station de Génétique Quantitative et Appliquée, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France; and
and
UMR Systèmes d’Elevage, Nutrition Animale et Humaine, 35590 Saint-Gilles, France
3 Corresponding author: renaudeau{at}antilles.inra.fr
The effects of breed and season on performance and feeding behavior were studied during 76 lactations in multiparous Large White (LW; n = 17) and Creole (CR; n = 23) sows reared in a humid tropical climate. The experiment was conducted in Guadeloupe (French West Indies, latitude 16°N, longitude 61°W) between May 2002 and July 2004. Average daily ambient temperature was greater during the hot season than during the warm season (26.0 vs. 23.8°C), but relative humidity was similar in both seasons (85% on average). The daily fluctuations of ambient temperature and relative humidity were similar for both seasons. At farrowing, BW was lower (187 vs. 265 kg) and backfat thickness was greater (40 vs. 22 mm) in CR than in LW sows (P < 0.01). Sows were offered feed ad libitum between the fifth and the 26th day of lactation. There was a breed x season interaction (P < 0.05) for ADFI. During the hot season the reduction of ADFI was more pronounced in LW than in CR sows (–1,100 vs. –300 g/d). Irrespective of breed and season, the daily number of meals was 9.0. The meal size and the rate of feed intake were greater in LW than in CR sows, respectively (555 g and 153 g/min vs. 390 g and 83 g/min; P < 0.01). The diurnal proportion of ADFI was greater in CR than in LW sows (0.60 vs. 0.41; P < 0.01). The reduction in ADFI in LW sows during the hot season was mainly related to a reduction in feed intake during the day rather than during the night (–1.3 vs. –0.2 kg; P < 0.01). Duration of standing was not affected by breed or season, and it averaged 120 min/day. This study confirms the negative effect of the hot season on feeding behavior of lactating sows. It also suggests a better acclimation to daily high temperatures and a greater heat tolerance in CR compared with LW sows, at least for eating behavior.
Key Words: breed • feeding behavior • feed intake • sow • tropical climate
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  B. A. N. Silva, J. Noblet, R. F. M. Oliveira, J. L. Donzele, Y. Primot, and D. Renaudeau Effects of dietary protein concentration and amino acid supplementation on the feeding behavior of multiparous lactating sows in a tropical humid climate J Anim Sci, June 1, 2009; 87(6): 2104 - 2112. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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J. L. Gourdine, J. P. Bidanel, J. Noblet, and D. Renaudeau Effects of breed and season on performance of lactating sows in a tropical humid climate J Anim Sci, February 1, 2006; 84(2): 360 - 369. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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