Effect of increasing lysine supply during last third of gestation on reproductive performance of Iberian sows

F Gómez-Carballar,R Nieto,L Lara,J F Aguilera

doi:10.5424/sjar/2013113-4208

F Gómez-Carballar, R Nieto + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2013113-4208

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Abstract

Ninety purebred Iberian (IB) sows in second or third parity were used to determine the effects of dietary lysine (Lys) concentration during last third of pregnancy on sow and litter performance. The sows were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments: 5.5 (LLys, Control), 7.4 (MLys) and 8.7 (HLys) g Lys kg-1 diet. Feed allowance was 2.30-2.33 kg d-1. Close to farrowing a conventional lactation diet was used. Dietary Lys did not affect body-weight (BW) gain in late gestation of second-parity sows. However, in third-parity sows, a strong tendency was observed for BW gain to increase during late pregnancy with dietary Lys levels higher than 5.5 g kg-1 (p=0.061). Body-weight losses during lactation were never influenced by Lys supply. A strong tendency (p=0.064) for a lower ratio between piglets born alive and total piglets born was observed in second-parity sows fed the Control gestation diet. Litters and piglets from sows on this diet had the lowest weight at birth (p0.05). In conclusion, under moderate energy supply, adequate reserves for subsequent lactation can be achieved in second- and third-parity IB sows with a daily provision of at least 17.2 g lysine over the last third of pregnancy, what implies a substantial increase in protein supply respect to traditional practices.

Highlights

Body reserves play a key role on the reproductive performance of the sow
The MLys diet led to the highest body weight (BW) gain in late gestation (p = 0.061), giving rise to the biggest difference in back-fat depth (p < 0.001)
Energy intake during pregnancy must be set within certain limits to avoid increased body fatness at farrowing, reduction of appetite and milk production (Revell et al, 1998) and enhanced maternal weight loss during the subsequent lactation (Dourmad, 1991; Weldon et al, 1994; Pettigrew & Yang, 1997)

Summary

Introduction

Body reserves play a key role on the reproductive performance of the sow. Restriction in feed intake is practiced to control weight gain in the gestating sow, as ad libitum intake during pregnancy may reduce milk production and appetite and increase maternal weight loss during lactation (Dourmad, 1991; Weldon et al, 1994; Pettigrew & Yang, 1997). In conventional sows, feed intake above 25 MJ ME d–1 in late gestation increases maternal gain (Dourmad et al, 1996) and body weight (BW) of the piglets at birth (Cromwell et al, 1989; Close & Cole, 2000b). This effect might be more marked in multiparous than in primiparous sows (Close & Cole, 2000a).

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