Metabolic utilization of energy and maintenance requirements in lactating sows

Metabolizable energy (ME), heat production (measured by indirect calorimetry in respiration chambers), milk energy output and body energy mobilization were measured in 20 gilts (10 replicates of two littermates) during a 21-d lactation. Two energy levels were used: 14.2 and 10.4 Mcal ME X d-1 X sow-1 in the high energy (HE) and low energy (LE) groups, respectively. The daily supply of other nutrients in the diets was identical in both treatments. Measurements of metabolic rate and energy balance of the litters were carried out. These data were used to estimate the maintenance requirements of the sows (MEm) and the efficiencies of utilization of energy of food (kl) and body reserves (krl) for energy production in milk. Nitrogen balance of the sows was also determined. Energy mobilization was increased by energy restriction (-5.35 vs -2.04 Mcal X d-1 X sow-1 for HE and LE gilts, respectively) and by the increment of milk production with the advancement of lactation. Energy restriction (LE vs HE gilts) resulted in increased weight loss consisting mainly of fat tissue depletion. Muscle depletion represented a rather large proportion of weight loss, even in sows fed the high energy level. Maintenance requirements amounted to 109 kcal ME X kg weight-.75 X d-1. The estimations for kl and krl were 72 and 88%, respectively. These results show that the overall efficiency of energy storage during pregnancy and its mobilization during lactation (68.6 to 70.9%) is similar to that of direct utilization of ME during lactation.