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Four experimental diets based on barley, wheat, soybean meal and wheat bran were prepared according to increased protein content ranging from 13.4 to 21.0. Therefore a total of one hundred animal were distributed into four groups of pregnant sows (Czech Improved White x Czech Landrace) and assigned to one of the four experimental treatments as follows: group A (n=27; CP=13.42%), group B (n=53; CP=15.82%), group C (n=10; CP=17.93%) and group D (n=10; CP=21.00%). In all animals the number of born alive, stillborns, died and weaned piglets was recorded. In ten randomly selected sows per group, the rectal temperature was recorded twice a day on the delivery day and in the following five days postpartum. In the same animal daily changes in the mammary gland, piglet behaviour and piglet loss rate in the individual sows. The backfat thickness (P2) was determined when the animals were moved to the farrowing crates and at weaning by using ultrasound technique. After weaning the onset of the heat in sows was monitored and blood was collected in order to analyse blood progesterone concentration by using a specific ELISA methodology.
No puerperium disorders were observed in the groups A and B and piglet loss before weaning reached 16.1 and 18.0% of total born, even more the 90% of sows became pregnant after the first insemination. In the animals fed the dietary treatments C and D the overall loss of all born piglets before weaning was 24.9 and 28.9%. Those values were significantly higher than those obtained for the animals fed A and B diets. Therefore, puerperium disorders and mastitis-metritis- agalactia syndrome were detected in 50% of the sows in group C and 80% in group D. The conception rate at 1st insemination was 80% (group C) and 60% (group D). It was observed that the reduction of the backfat thickness tended to be lower for the animals fed the C and D diets that for those fed A or B. On day 14 postweaning higher progesterone levels for the group fed the A diet than for the group fed the D diet.
It is concluded that high crude protein intake in the last 14 days of pregnancy in sows may have a negative impact on puerperium and piglet loss prior to weaning.
D Tydlitat, A Vinkler and L Czanderlova. 2008 Acta Veterinaria de Brno, 76:585-593.
