Neither increasing the frequency of sow feedings nor decreasing the interval between feedings prior to farrowing reduced piglet stillbirths

Abstract

Abstract Farrowing durations that exceed 240 min cause stillborn rates to increase. Therefore, feeding strategies in late gestation have been studied to mitigate the negative consequences of extended farrowing durations. A total of 1,501 sows (PIC 1050 Camborough) were used for this study at two individual farms near Carthage, Illinois. Farm 1 (758 sows) was porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSv) stable (previously experienced a PRRSv outbreak and currently vaccinated for PRRSv) with an older parity structure (3.67). Farm 2 (743 sows) was PRRSv positive (sows with pigs demonstrating Ct values < 36 determined by pig processing fluids) and had a younger parity structure (2.96). Sows were moved into farrowing rooms at approximately d 112 of gestation and started on their respective treatment. Treatment 1 sows were fed 1 meal of 2.27 kg per day at 0600 h. Treatment 2 sows were fed 2 equal meals of 1.13 kg (2.27 kg total) at 0600 and 1400 h. Treatment 3 sows were fed 2 equal meals of 1.13 kg (2.27 kg total) at 0600 and 1800 h. Treatment 4 sows were fed 3 equal meals of 0.77 kg (2.27 kg total) at 0600, 1400, and 2200 h. Treatments were assigned to farrowing rooms in a replicated 4×4 Latin Square arrangement of treatments where each treatment was fed in each room one time at each farm. Daily feed intakes were recorded from the time sows were introduced to the farrowing room until 5 days after farrowing. The total number of pigs born, pigs born alive, stillbirths, and mummies were recorded for each litter within 24h of farrowing. Live pigs were weighed as a group to record litter birth weight. Pig mortality and morbidities were recorded until 5 days after farrowing. The number of total pigs born, and pigs born alive were not different (P ≥ 0.59) among treatments. The number of stillborn pigs were not different (P = 0.33) among treatment 1(1.15 ±1.41), treatment 2 (1.20 ±1.36), treatment 3 (1.30 ±1.46), and treatment 4 (1.14 ±1.28). Sows fed 3 times per d at 8 h intervals tended (P = 0.08) to reduce the percentage of sows farrowed under supervision compared with sows fed once a d. Sows fed twice per d at 12 h intervals reduced (P = 0.01) the percentage of sows provided assistance compared with feeding sows once per d. Feeding a sow one meal of 2.27 kg, two meals (2.27 kg total), or 3 meals (2.27 kg total) of feed a day before farrowing did not reduce the number of stillborn piglets regardless of farm health status or parity structure.