256 Body Condition Association with Production Records and Feed Management Decisions

Abstract

Abstract Body condition prior to and after farrowing has been shown to be associated with sow productivity. The objective for this study was to evaluate body condition impacts at a snapshot in time and determine its association with sow production measures. Data were collected from Midwestern commercial breed-to-wean farms (n = 3). These farms represented typical commercial genetic maternal lines and management systems. Two separate sow groups were measured at each farm representing sows entering farrowing (pre-farrow, n = 717, d 90 – 113 gestation) and sows that had been most recently weaned (post-farrow, n =756, d 2 – 30 post-weaning). A BCS sow caliper was used to objectively assess body condition. Using the caliper measurements, condition was broken into 3 categories: “thin” (< 12), “ideal” (13-15), and “fat” (>16). Production records were obtained for number born live, stillborn, mummified, and weaned piglets as well as the wean-to-estrus interval. Data were evaluated using the mixed model methods (PROC MIXED, SAS Institute, Cary, NC). Pre-farrow caliper measurements indicated sows categorized as “fat” had fewer pigs born live compared with “thin” sows (P < 0.15). Sows classified as “fat” prior to farrowing had the least number of pigs weaned compared with sows in “ideal” or “thin” condition (P < 0.05). Retrospective post-farrow results revealed there was tendency for “thin” sows to have had more pigs born live than “fat” sows (P < 0.15). “Thin” sows had weaned the most pigs when compared with sows in either the “ideal” or “fat” category (P < 0.05). This suggests that gestational feed management and preventing sows from putting on excessive body fat prior to farrowing has positive effects on the number of pigs born alive at the subsequent farrowing and pigs weaned following lactation. This leads to feed savings and economic benefits.