Abstract
Simple SummaryAlthough it is known that restriction of feed negatively influences the behaviour and welfare of sows, it is widely adopted during the gestation period to counteract nutrient oversupply. Nonetheless, a healthy gut needs its fuel and is a prerequisite for preventing birth-associated health disorders. Including high amounts of fibre in diets around parturition could be the solution for behavioural disorders and health problems in sows and therefore in piglets as well. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of ad libitum access to compound feeds rich in fibre (ante partum and peri partum) and a lactation diet (post partum) on the performance and health of sows. This study indicated that a higher feed intake of a fibre-rich diet ante partum did not interfere with any birth-associated disorders. In addition, ad libitum-fed sows showed higher dry matter (DM) intake throughout lactation, which led to beneficial effects on the body condition scores of sows. Due to the high fibre intake, the excretion of C. perfringens via sows’ faeces could be significantly reduced, which could be a helpful tool in reducing the risk of neonatal diarrhoea caused by C. perfringens.The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of ad libitum access to compound feeds rich in fibre (ante partum (a.p.) and peri partum) on the DM intake, body mass development and performance of sows as well as excretion of Clostridium (C.) perfringens via sows’ faeces. From day 109 (d-7) of gestation, 25 of 48 sows (23 considered as control) received access to one of two different high-fibre pellets from d-7 until the second day post partum (p.p.) (d2) (fibre groups (FG) 1 and 2) in additional to a lactation diet. The additional DM intake of the high-fibre pellets a.p. was 2.13 ± 1.15 kg in FG 1 and 3.14 ± 0.68 kg in FG 2. This led to higher DM intake in the first lactation week and significantly lower losses of weight and back fat thickness during lactation. The bacterial counts of C. perfringens in sows’ faeces directly p.p. were 10 times lower in FG 1 and 100 times lower in FG 2 compared to the controls. High amounts of fibre led to higher DM intake throughout lactation, which had beneficial effects on sows’ body conditions. It seems that high fibre intake influenced the excretion of C. perfringens at parturition, which could improve the health of newborns.
Highlights
An adequate supply of modern high-performance sows with energy and nutrients, especially during the lactation period, is still a challenge in animal nutrition [1]
The allocated feed quantity is gradually increased after birth and the lactation diet is offered nearly ad libitum from the second week of lactation onwards, a low feed intake in the first week of lactation cannot be compensated by a higher feed intake in the subsequent lactation [4]
The sows in the ad libitum groups achieved high DM intake ante partum; the animals of FG-2 with 5.5–6.5 kg DM/d showed a 1 kg DM higher total feed intake compared to FG-1 in the first week of lactation
Summary
An adequate supply of modern high-performance sows with energy and nutrients, especially during the lactation period, is still a challenge in animal nutrition [1]. The allocated feed quantity is gradually increased after birth and the lactation diet is offered nearly ad libitum from the second week of lactation onwards, a low feed intake in the first week of lactation cannot be compensated by a higher feed intake in the subsequent lactation [4] This leads to a reduced overall feed intake during the lactation period accompanied by weight loss and may result in several common reproductive problems, such as extended weaning-to-oestrus intervals [5]. Including high amounts of fibre in gestation diets is a method for promoting satiety [21] and reducing stereotypical behaviour [14] and for increasing voluntary feed intake especially during early lactation [19,20]
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