Effect of source of dietary energy and energy restriction during lactation on sow and litter performance

The effects of source of energy and energy restriction during lactation on sow and litter performance were investigated in an experiment with 90 primiparous sows. At parturition, the sows were randomly assigned to diets containing either tallow or cornstarch as a major energy source. Energy intake was restricted to 8 Mcal of metabolizable energy X sow-1 X d-1 during a 28-d lactation. All sows received equal amounts of crude protein, vitamins and minerals daily, which met or exceeded standard recommendations. Sows fed the diet with tallow lost more weight (P less than .05) during lactation than those fed the diet with cornstarch. Litter size at d 28 was greater (P less than .07) for sows fed cornstarch than for sows fed tallow. However, pig and litter weights on d 14 and 28 of lactation were similar between dietary treatments. Sows were bled on d 110 of gestation and d 14 and 28 of lactation and blood plasma was analyzed for urea. A significant treatment X time interaction was found for plasma urea. Sows fed the diet with tallow appeared to catabolize more protein than those fed the diet with cornstarch. Energy digestibility was lower (P less than .01) in the diet containing tallow, but protein digestibility was not affected by source of energy. Percentages of sows in estrus by 7, 14 and 70 d post-weaning were not different between treatments.