Effects of Adding Fat to the Sow Lactation Diet on Lactation and Rebreeding Performance

Authors

• G. C. Shurson, Michigan State University
• M. G. Hogberg, Michigan State University
• N. DeFever, Michigan State University
• S. V. Radecki, Michigan State University
• E. R. Miller, Michigan State University
• Win Butler, McGill University

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

1986

Comments

Published in JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 62 (1986), pp. 672-680. Copyright © 1986 American Society of Animal Science. Used by permission.

Abstract

One-hundred-three multiparous sows were randomly assigned to one of two lactation diets containing either no supplemental animal fat (C) or 10% added fat (F) during two seasons, summer (S) and winter (W), in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Sows were placed on their respective dietary treatments 1 wk prior to farrowing and were fed these diets ad libitum throughout the 28-d lactation period. Weekly feed intake and total feed intake were not affected by diet or season, while weekly metabolizable energy (ME) intake tended to be higher during wk 1 and 3, and was higher (P<.04) during wk 2 for sows fed diet F. Sow weight loss from farrowing to 21 d of lactation and to weaning (28 d) were unaffected by diet or season. Average pig birth weight was .15 kg higher (P<.O1) for pigs born during S compared with those born in W. Sows receiving diet F had heavier litters at 21 d (P<.01) and heavier average pig 21-d weights (P<.O1). This was primarily due to the 13.1% increase (P<.04) in estimated milk yield and the higher fat concentration (P<.O01) of milk consumed by the pigs nursing sows fed diet F. Interval between weaning and re-breeding was shortened by 5.9 d (P<.01) for sows during W than during S, and tended to be lower for sows fed diet F (7.3 d) compared with that of sows fed diet C (9.7 d). Farrowing percentage was unaffected by diet but tended to be increased during W (78.9%) compared with S (65.1%). No differences between mason or diet were noted on number of pigs born or number of pigs born alive in the subsequent parity. No diet • season interactions were observed, except for crude protein concentration of sow's milk, which was higher in milk from sows fed diet C during season W (P<.04).