Effects on sow and litter performance of energy intake in lactation and feeding patterns after weaning

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Abstract
Sow and litter performance of 54 grade Large White sows was measured over four parities. At first mating the animals were allocated at random to three levels of apparent digestible energy intake in lactation and within each of these treatments to three post-weaning treatments. Post-weaning treatments were imposed for 4 days from the day of weaning and involved the feeding of 2.72 kg meal daily, or a period of feed and water withdrawal for 24 h followed by either 3. 63 or 2. 72 kg feed for 3 days. All treatment groups returned to an intake of 2.72 kg meal 5 days after weaning. The imposition of treatments for 4 consecutive days starting at weaning significantly influenced litter size at birth and 4 weeks of age in Parities 2 and 4. However, no differences were found in Parity 3. Sows not subjected to a 24-h period of feed and water deprivation farrowed the largest litters, and sows starved for 24 h and then offered 2.72 kg of meal daily had the smallest litters. The interval beween weaning and either first oestrus or successful mating was not affected by post-weaning or lactation treatments. Energy intake levels in lactation did not affect sow or litter performance, possibly due to the small range in apparent digestible energy intakes.