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The use of by-products like rye bran in sow diets presents a compelling opportunity due to its functional benefits, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. Rye bran is known to have favorable effects on intestinal health, making it a suitable addition to sow diets. This study examined the inclusion of 15% rye bran in the feed for lactating sows and its impact on performance metrics such as body weight and backfat thickness in sows, as well as weight gain in piglets.
Methods: The feeding regimen began one week before farrowing and continued until weaning. A total of 175 sows and 1,372 piglets were evaluated, with additional backfat thickness measurements in 80 sows. Colostrum intake in piglets and milk production in sows were calculated using these data. Each sow in the study was randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments. The control diet consisted of wheat, barley, and soybean as the main components, with wheat bran serving as the primary fiber source. In contrast, the experimental diet replaced wheat bran with 15% rye bran, while keeping the other components consistent.
Results: The study findings revealed no significant differences in overall sow or piglet performance parameters between the rye bran-fed group and the control group. However, rye bran-fed sows exhibited 2 cm greater backfat thickness at weaning compared to those in the control group. Additionally, an intriguing observation was made regarding piglets: lighter birth weight (<1000 g) and medium birth weight (1000–1500 g) piglets showed increased colostrum consumption when their mothers were fed rye bran. This suggests a potential benefit for colostrum intake in piglets with lower birth weights, which could positively influence early development despite the lack of significant changes in other performance indicators.
Conclusion: Overall, including 15% rye bran in the diet of lactating sows had no adverse effects on the performance of either sows or piglets, highlighting its potential as a sustainable feed ingredient.
Homann, C., Wilke, V., Eckey, I., Chuppava, B., Kaltschmitt, M., Zimmermann, A., & Visscher, C. (2024). Rye Bran as a Component in the Diets of Lactating Sows-Effects on Sow and Piglet Performance. Animals: an open access journal from MDPI, 14(3), 380. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030380
