Protein Source and Level for Pregnant Gilts: A Comparison of Corn, Opaque-2 Corn and Corn-Soybean Meal Diets

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Abstract
Five farrowings with a total of 269 first-litter gilts were utilized to study effects of source and level of dietary protein fed during gestation on reproductive performance and progeny development. Five experimental diets were evaluated, all fed at 1.9 kg/day throughout gestation. Sources and levels of protein were: corn, 8.8% protein; opaque-2 corn, 9.7% protein and corn-soybean meal mixtures to provide 12, 16 or 20% protein. Dietary treatment during gestation had no effect on number or weight of pigs farrowed (total or live). However, number of pigs weaned/litter, litter gain and total litter weaning weight were less in litters from gilts fed the corn diet as compared with those from gilts fed the other diets. Opaque-2 corn was superior to conventional corn and equal to the corn-soybean meal treatments in these criteria. Gilts fed the corn diet gained less during gestation than gilts on the other treatments, and gilts fed the opaque-2 corn diet gained less than those fed 12, 16 and 20% protein diets. Gilts fed the corn diet during gestation gained 4.5 kg during the 3-week lactation period, but those on the other treatments lost weight in proportion to the weight gained during gestation. Lactation diet intake was similar for all five treatments.

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