Voluntary food intake of sows and gilts

Abstract

AbstractThe lactating sow requires 5 to 7 kg food daily if it is to maintain body weight and condition in lactation but even on ad libitum intake sows fail to achieve the required food consumption and so lose both weight and tissue. The problem is most acute in primiparous sows and low lactation food intake is recognized as a major factor in post-weaning anoestrus and impaired reproductive performance. Studies of sows from the Moorepark herd are reported. Older animals, those with high suckling load and thin animals all tend to eat more with maximum daily intake occurring at 4 to 5 weeks of lactation. Although intake reduces at high environmental temperatures, this has been alleviated by wet feeding, offering a high energy-density diet or a high-protein diet. Other factors observed to influence voluntary food intake are breed, lighting pattern, dietary calcium and phosphorus levels.