Related Experiment Videos
[Postpartum N-balance in lactating sows]
G Bolduan1, E Schnabel, S Voss
1Bereich Tierernährung Oskar Kellner, Akademie der Landwirtschaftswissenschaften der DDR, Forschungszentrum für Tierproduktion Dummerstorf-Rostock.
Archiv Fur Tierernahrung
|October 1, 1990
Summary
High feed intake for sows after farrowing boosts piglet growth and milk yield. Restricted feeding initially, then ad libitum, supports sow health and performance during lactation.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Reproductive Biology
- Nutritional Physiology
Context:
- Sow nutrition and milk production are critical for piglet survival and growth.
- Lactation performance in sows is influenced by pre-farrowing and post-farrowing feeding strategies.
- Understanding energy requirements during lactation is essential for optimizing sow and piglet outcomes.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the impact of varying pre-farrowing feed amounts on sow N-balance and milk yield.
- To determine the relationship between sow energy intake post-farrowing and piglet performance.
- To assess the efficacy of peripartal additives on sow health and lactation performance.
Summary:
- Continuous nitrogen (N)-balances were measured in sows over 14 days, with milk yield estimated via piglet daily gain.
- Sows were fed varying amounts pre-farrowing, with ad libitum feeding during trials; milk yield decreased after the first week.
- Higher post-farrowing energy intake correlated with better piglet performance; 65 antibiotic treatments were administered for fevers (>39.5°C).
Impact:
- Recommends high post-farrowing feeding for sows, tailored to needs, with restricted and increasing amounts in the first lactation week.
- Suggests peripartal additives like antibiotics or acids can benefit sow health and overall performance.
- Provides insights into optimizing sow feeding strategies to enhance milk production and piglet growth.