Effect of Feeding Levels on the Reproductive Performance of Swine

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Abstract
Sixty-four sows were individually fed in each of three trials to compare the effects of level of feed intake at time of breeding and during the last third of gestation on reproductive performance. In trial 2 sows receiving the low level of feed (2.67 kg./day) at breeding farrowed significantly more live pigs than those receiving the high level (3.18 kg./day). In the combined analysis of the three trials, the interaction of level of feeding at breeding time and the level of feeding during the last third of gestation on number of pigs farrowed and the number weaned was significant. Sows fed the higher level at both breeding time and during the last third of gestation farrowed fewer pigs than did sows on the other treatments. Sows fed the high level at breeding time farrowed significantly heavier pigs than did those fed the low level. Increasing the level of feed intake during the last third of gestation significantly increased sow weight gains, but had no significant effect on birth weight of the pigs. Copyright © 1966. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1966 by American Society of Animal Science