Meta-analysis of increasing lysine and energy in late gestation on piglet growth, colostrum composition and piglet throughput.
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AbstractA meta-analysis of four late gestation sow nutrition studies (n = 298 sows) was conducted to evaluate the effects of sow feeding level and diet composition on colostrum composition and sow productivity. In all experiments, sows were fed either a gestation diet (2,979 Kcal/kg ME, 0.58% SID lysine) or lactation diet (3,322 Kcal/kg ME, 0.99% SID lysine, 2.5% added fat). The timing of transition from the gestation to the lactation diet varied between day 93 and 107 of gestation. Feeding levels ranged from 1.5 to 4.5 kg. Total lysine (LYS) and total added fat (FAT) intake from day 93 of gestation to farrowing were calculated. Data was analyzed using PROC GLM in SAS with fixed effects of experiment, parity, litter size and day of diet transition. Sow was the experimental unit. Average total number born and mean piglet colostrum intake (CI) were 13.2 and 470 g, respectively. Increasing piglet CI increased (P < 0.05) number of piglets weaned by the biological dam (LSW) and average piglet weaning weight (WWT). A 1 g increase in added fat during late gestation increased piglet CI by 0.03 g (P < 0.01). A 1 g increase in LYS intake increased (P < 0.05) piglet CI by 0.12 g and WWT by 1.2 g. Feeding level did not impact (P > 0.05) piglet CI, LSW or WWT. Feeding level, LYS and FAT did not impact (P > 0.05) colostrum composition. A one nipple increase in functional teat number was associated with a 260 g increase (P < 0.01) in litter CI and a 0.30 piglet increase (P < 0.05) in LSW. Results suggest increasing LYS and FAT in late gestation, above what is typically fed on commercial sow farms, may improve sow reproduction. However a cost benefit analysis should be conducted before increasing feed cost. Strategies to increase sow functional teat number should be evaluated.
