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A consequence of the genetic selection of sows with greatest prolificacy has been the increase in farrowing duration, which can have negative effects on sow health and survival of piglets. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the amount and frequency of feed delivery on the parturition process, sow and litter performance, and survivability of piglets. For this purpose, a total of 727 mixed parity (μ = 3.8) sows were used. Upon entry to the farrowing house (day 113), sows were blocked by weight within parity and allotted to one of the three feeding management strategies until farrowing: (1) 2.7 kg lactation diet once daily at 7:00 h; (2) four daily meals of 0.67 kg (1:00, 7:00, 13:00, and 19:00 h); (3) ad libitum lactation diet and encouraged to consume feed at 1:00, 7:00, 13:00, and 19:00 h. After farrowing, all sows were provided lactation diets fed on an ad libitum basis until weaning.
Feeding sows ad libitum before farrowing tended to reduce sow body weight (BW) loss and reduce backfat (BF) loss from entry into the farrowing house until weaning compared with sows fed four daily meals. Litter gain from 24 h to weaning tended to be greater in sows fed on an ad libitum basis or four times daily prior to farrowing compared with sows fed one meal. Piglet weaning weight increased in sows fed on an ad libitum basis before farrowing, compared with those fed one meal. There was no evidence for difference in farrowing duration, stillborn rate, colostrum yield, or 24 h piglet survival regardless of treatment. However, from 24 h after farrowing to weaning, sows fed one daily meal prior to farrowing had an increased percentage of fall-behind pigs compared with sows fed on an ad libitum basis, and increased pre-weaning mortality compared with sows fed four daily meals, resulting in reduced weaned percentage compared with sows fed four daily meals. There was no evidence for difference in subsequent reproductive performance regardless of treatment.
In conclusion, when sows were fed on an ad libitum basis from 2 to 3 d before farrowing, there was an observed improvement in sow BW and BF maintenance during lactation and piglet weaning weight during lactation. Increased frequency of meals prior to farrowing improved the survival of pigs to weaning compared with sows fed a single meal prior to farrowing.
Gourley KM, Swanson AJ, Royall RQ, DeRouchey JM, Tokach MD, Dritz SS, Goodband RD, Hastad CW, Woodworth JC. Effects of timing and size of meals prior to farrowing on sow and litter performance. Translational Animal Science. 2020; 4(2): 724-736. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaa066
