Effects of suckling intensity on milk yield and piglet growth from lactation-enhanced gilts1

It has been suggested that the anterior glands may be larger, produce more milk or provide a more comfortable position for piglets (Donald, 1937; Gill and Thomson, 1956) while others have suggested that there is no difference in milk yield among teats (Hartman et al., 1962; Pond et al., 1962). The real advantage of the anterior mammary glands of sows for the suckling pig remains unclear. We have demonstrated that substantial mammary growth occurs during lactation in the sows (Kim et al., 1999). This study was designed to relate teat preference and piglet growth with gland size and composition. Our hypothesis is that there are differences between anterior and posterior glands in size and composition and that these differences may be related to piglet growth during lactation.

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The influence of litter size on milk production of sows

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800010109 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 67 (2) ◽

pp. 333-337 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

D. E. Auldist ◽

L. Morrish ◽

P. Eason ◽

R. H. King

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Litter Size ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Post Partum ◽

Early Lactation ◽

Average Growth Rate ◽

Average Growth ◽

Milk Output ◽

Piglet Growth ◽

Cross Fostering

AbstractThirty sows were allocated at their first farrowing to five litter size treatments. Litter sizes of six, eight, 10,12 and 14 were established by cross-fostering within 48 h post partum. Milk yield (Y, kg/day) of sows was linearly related to litter size (L) and was described by the equations; Y = 5·98 (s.e. 0·48) + 0·689 (s.e. 0·046)L, R2 = 0·99; residual s.d. = 0·29; P < 0·001 and Y = 8·20 (s.e. 0·46) + 0·324 (s.e. 0·044)1, R2 = 0·95; residual s.d. = 0·28; P < 0·002 for early (day 10 to day 14) and late (day 24 to day 28) lactation, respectively. The composition of milk from sows suckling various litter sizes remained relatively stable but suckling frequency in early lactation increased linearly in response to increased litter size. Litter size significantly affected the average growth rate of individual piglets; piglet growth rate from birth to weaning at 28 days of age decreased from 283 g/day to 202 giday in response to increasing litter size from six to 14. The relationships between milk yield, average piglet growth rate and litter size indicate that the number of functional glands is the major factor influencing milk yield of sows. Increasing the number of functional glands by increasing litter size more than compensates for any decrease in milk output from individual glands.

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The effect of dietary protein level on milk yield and composition and piglet growth and composition of the Meishan synthetic and European White breeds of sow

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800050724 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 701-708 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

A. G. Sinclair ◽

J. M. Shaw ◽

S.A. Edwards ◽

S. Hoste ◽

A. McCartney

Keyword(s):

Milk Yield ◽

Growth Rates ◽

Dietary Protein ◽

Protein Level ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Yield Response ◽

Dietary Protein Level ◽

Lactational Performance ◽

Lower Protein ◽

Piglet Growth

AbstractCurrent feeding recommendations for lactating sows may be inappropriate for modern genotypes with high milk production. The introduction of the prolific but obese Meishan breed into sow lines also necessitates a review of nutrient requirements. A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was used to investigate the influence of breed type (Meishan synthetic 50% (M) and purebred European White (W) on response to dietary protein level (L = 140 g crude protein (CP) per kg, 6 g lysine per kg; H = 181 g CP per kg, 9 g lysine per kg) over a 5-week lactation. Milk yield (days 5, 9, 13,17, 21 and 28), milk composition and piglet growth and body composition were measured to quantify aspects of lactational performance. M had higher litter sizes throughout lactation (P < 0·001) and produced more milk than W(M = 10·04 W = 7·85 (s.e.d. 0·521) kg/day, P < 0·001) and milk of a higher fat content (M = 79·6 W = 75·0 (s.e.d. 5·71 g/kg, P < 0·05). Total solids were not significantly different between treatments. H produced higher milk protein content than L (L = 43·0 H = 55·7 (s.e.d. 3.01) g/kg, P = 0·05). Litter growth rates showed a breed effect (P < 0·001), diet effect (P < 0·001) and a breed × diet interaction (ML = 2·41 MH = 3·21 WL = 2·07 WH = 2·07 (s.e.d. 0·658) kg/day, P < 0·001). M piglets had higher fat deposition rates (M = 37 W = 24 (s.e.d. 4.5) g/day, P < 0·05). L piglets had a lower protein (P < 0·05) and fat (P < 0·05) deposition rate compared with H piglets. Higher litter growth rates of M sows resulted from a combination of increased milk yield and f at content and this was further enhanced by additional dietary protein. W sows showed no milk yield response to dietary protein but reduced maternal tissue catabolism.

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241 Metoclopramide induces low-level hyperprolactinemia to increase milk production in sows

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa278.330 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. 179-180

Author(s):

Alice T Mathews ◽

Carmen M Banks ◽

Josephine F Trott ◽

Roberto D Sainz ◽

Chantal Farmer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Body Weight ◽

Milk Production ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Deuterium Oxide ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Additional Treatment ◽

Milk Intake ◽

Dopamine Antagonist ◽

Piglet Growth

Abstract Inadequate milk production by sows often limits the growth rate of piglets. A successful lactation requires prolactin (PRL)-induced differentiation of the alveolar epithelium within the mammary glands of sows between gestation days 90–110 (G90-110). We hypothesized that late gestational hyperprolactinemia in primiparous sows induced by feeding the dopamine antagonist metoclopramide (MET) would enhance mammary epithelial differentiation, milk yield, and piglet growth rate, and that these effects would carry over into a subsequent lactation. Twenty-six gilts were randomly assigned to receive either MET (n = 13, 0.8mg/kg) or vehicle (CON, n = 13) twice daily from G90-110. On G90, circulating PRL levels peaked 45 min after MET dosing (P < 0.001) then returned to baseline 3 h later. This response occurred daily out to G104 (P < 0.05). Treated gilts had increased alveolar lumen diameter on G110 (P < 0.05), though feed intake, body weight, and carcass fat percent were not different during pregnancy or lactation. Piglets born to treated sows had increased body weight and average daily gain on lactation days 14 and 21 (P < 0.05). Piglet milk intake was estimated from deuterium oxide dilution. While milk intake by piglets nursing MET sows was not statistically different from those nursing CON sows on day 21 of lactation (P = 0.18), there was a greater increase in milk consumption by piglets born to MET-treated sows between days 9 and 21 of lactation than for those in CON litters (P < 0.001). In one group of second parity sows, milk yield was increased during their second lactation with no additional treatment (P < 0.05) and their carcass fat dropped by 14% (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that MET-induced hyperprolactinemia in pigs during late pregnancy can increase milk yield and piglet growth rate, and this response can be sustained into a second lactation in some sows.

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406 EFFECTS OF SUCKLING INTENSITY ON MILK YIELD AND PIGLET GROWTH IN LACTATION-ENHANCED ALPHA-LACTALBUMIN TRANSGENIC GILTS

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv19n1ab406 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 318

Author(s):

K. M. Marshall ◽

W. L. Hurley ◽

R. D. Shanks ◽

M. B. Wheeler

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Age Groups ◽

Early Lactation ◽

Over Expression ◽

Piglet Growth ◽

Transgenic Swine ◽

Daily Milk Yield ◽

Daily Milk ◽

Alpha Lactalbumin

The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of suckling intensity on milk yield and piglet growth. Lactation capacity of the gilts was enhanced through over-expression of a mammary-specific transgene, bovine alpha-lactalbumin. Lactational response to increased suckling stimulation was determined by fostering litters of either the same age (day 1) or 7 days older (day 7) than the day of lactation to gilts either non-transgenic (C) or transgenic (T) for bovine alpha-lactalbumin. Twenty first-parity gilts were allocated between 4 treatments depending on gilt genotype and age of litter fostered (CDay1, CDay7, TDay1, TDay7). Litters were standardized to 10 piglets within 24 h postpartum, and non-birth piglets were fostered to subject gilts with an equal litter weight within age groups at 36 h postpartum. Milk yield was determined by the weigh-suckle-weigh method on Days 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 of lactation. Mean daily milk yield was greater (P = 0.031) for T gilts compared with C gilts, and tended to be greater (P = 0.056) for all gilts with Day 7 piglets compared to those with Day 1 piglets. Daily milk yield of TDay7 gilts increased rapidly to peak at Day 9 and was greater than the milk yield of all C gilts at Days 9 (P < 0.01), 12 (P < 0.02), and 15 (P < 0.02). Mean daily milk yield of TDay7 gilts was 2.1 kg greater (P = 0.002) than for CDay7 gilts and 2.0 kg greater (P = 0.004) than for TDay1 gilts. Daily milk yield of TDay1 gilts was not different (P = 0.491) from that of CDay1 gilts. Daily milk yield of CDay7 gilts did not differ (P = 0.630) from that of CDay1 gilts. Piglet weight gain between Days 3 and 6 was greater (P < 0.01) in the TDay7 group than in all other groups, and was greater (P < 0.05) than in the C groups from Days 6 through 9. No difference was found in comparing accumulated weight gain of the piglets between the day of age at foster (Day 1 vs. Day 7; P = 0.606) or between the CDay1 and CDay7 groups (P = 0.759). Accumulated weight gain of piglets suckling TDay7 gilts from Days 3 through 6 and from Days 3 through 9 was greater (P < 0.02) than in the other groups, and continued to be greater (P < 0.05) than in either of the C groups through Day 15. However, by Day 15, accumulated weight gain of the piglets suckling TDay1 gilts was not different (P = 0.395) from that of the TDay7 group and was greater (P = 0.049) than that of the CDay1 group by Day 15. The enhanced lactation potential of the transgenic gilts synergizes with suckling intensity to stimulate increased milk production during early lactation, and also stimulates piglet growth. This synergy may help regulate milk yield during lactation in bovine alpha-lactalbumin transgenic swine.

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Short Communication: Relations between peripartum concentrations of prolactin and progesterone in sows and piglet growth in early lactation

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas2012-106 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 93 (1) ◽

pp. 109-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Hélène Quesnel ◽

Peter Ramaekers ◽

Hubèrt van Hees ◽

Chantal Farmer

Keyword(s):

Milk Yield ◽

Short Communication ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Early Growth ◽

Early Lactation ◽

Clear Effect ◽

Piglet Growth ◽

High Concentrations

Quesnel, H., Ramaekers, P., van Hees, H. and Farmer, C. 2013. Short Communication: Relations between peripartum concentrations of prolactin and progesterone in sows and piglet growth in early lactation. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 93: 109–112. Postpartum hypogalactia has been suggested to be related to an impaired secretion of prolactin or to elevated concentrations of progesterone around farrowing. In the current study, peripartum circulating concentrations of prolactin and progesterone were determined in 50 multiparous sows (parities 1 to 5) and related to the Na K−1 ratio and lactose in colostrum and to piglet growth in early lactation. An effect of parity (P<0.001) was observed for prolactin, with sows from parity 1 having lower concentrations than sows from parities 2, 3, 4 and 5, and sows from parities 4 and 5 having the greatest concentrations. Piglet growth from day 1 to day 5 was negatively correlated with progesterone concentrations in sows on day 1 (r=−0.36, P=0.01). The present study supports the hypothesis of a negative impact of high concentrations of progesterone after farrowing on early growth of piglets and also shows a clear effect of sow parity on the peripartum concentrations of prolactin suggesting that younger sows are more vulnerable to reduced milk yield due to lower prolactin concentrations.

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