Polyol mixture supplementation in the diet of breeding sows and piglets

Abstract

In a factorial 2x2 experiment the use of a polyol mixture (sugar alcohols) in the diet of sows and piglets was investigated. The trial was performed with 26 sows divided into two groups. The polyol sows were fed 180 g polyol mixture daily, and for polyol group piglets the polyol supplementation in creep feed was 5 %. The average number of piglets per litter in the control group was 10.3 and in the polyol group 9.2. The addition of polyols to the diet of sows had only a small effect on the performance of piglets. The piglets receiving polyols in creep feed gained during 1—21 days post partum 21.1 % more than controls and during the rest of the lactation period 7 % more (P > 0.05). The incidence of diarrhoea in piglets of polyol groups was slightly higher compared with controls. The consumption of creep feed supplemented with polyols tended to be higher than consumption of control feed. Colostrum and milk samples were taken for analysis within 12 h after feeding and 7 and 21 days thereafter. The protein and lactose contents of colostrum and milk were slightly higher and the fat content lower from sows receiving polyols, but the differences were not significant. The mineral and amino acid composition was also analysed.