Sequence of Protein Feeding and Value of Alfalfa Meal and Fish Meal for Pregnant Gilts and Sows

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Abstract
Three groups of 60 crossbred gilts were employed in two consecutive farrowings to evaluate five gestation protein regimes. Treatments (1.9 kg/day) were: 1) 12% protein corn-soybean meal diet throughout pregnancy, 2) fortified corn diet (8.7% protein) until day 80 of gestation, then 12% protein diet until farrowing, 3) as 2 except a 16% protein corn-soybean meal diet from day 80 until farrowing, 4) 12% protein corn-soybean meal diet with 5% dehydrated alfalfa meal throughout pregnancy and 5) 12% protein corn-soybean meal diet containing 3% menhaden fish meal throughout pregnancy. All dams were ad libitum fed 16% protein corn-soybean meal diets during lactation. Litter size of live pigs at birth and weaning was lower for treatments 2 and 4 than for the average of the other treatments. Reproductive performance of gilts or sows fed the 16% protein diet during the last trimester of pregnancy (treatment 3) was equivalent to that observed on the positive control 12% protein diet fed throughout pregnancy. No improvement was noted from addition of 3% fish meal to the gestation ration.

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