PSII-10 Effect of gilt feeding level and length of increased feeding level in late gestation on piglet birth weight

Abstract

Abstract The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of increasing gilt feeding level in late gestation, for different durations, on piglet quality. Gilts (n = 472) were allocated to one of five dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial + control design at a commercial farm in eastern North Carolina. Hence gilts were fed 1.82 kg of feeding until farrowing (Control) or feeding level was increased by either 0.68 or 1.36 kg at either day 93 (d93) or 100 (d100) of gestation. Treatments were randomly assigned by pen (5 to 6 gilts per pen). The gestation diet contained 2,979 Kcal/kg ME and 0.58% SID lysine. Gilt body condition score was captured at day 93 of gestation using a sow body condition caliper (thin = < 12, ideal = 12 to 15, fat = > 15). Piglet birth weights were captured within 24 h of farrowing and piglets were ear notched by treatment prior to cross-fostering. Data were analyzed using PROC GLM with fixed effects of dietary treatment, contemporary group and covariates of litter size and sow functional teat number when applicable. Average gilt caliper score at d 93 of gestation was 17.0. Gilt caliper score did not differ (P > 0.05) across dietary treatments. Mean piglet birth weight did not differ (P > 0.05) between the five dietary treatments or the main effects of feeding level or length of feeding level. A one piglet increase in litter size reduced (P < 0.01) mean piglet birth weight by 30 g. An increase of one functional sow teat increased (P < 0.05) litter size at weaning of the biological sow by 0.28 piglets. Results suggest increasing gilt feeding level in late gestation does not impact mean piglet birth weight when gilts are over conditioned.