PSIV-15 Influence of Particle Size of Enogen Feed Corn and Conventional Yellow Dent Corn on Lactating Sow Performance

A total of 107 sows (Line 241; DNA, Columbus, NE) across 4 batch farrowing groups were used to evaluate the effects of corn source and particle size on sow and litter performance. Treatments were arranged in a 2×2 factorial with main effects of corn source (Enogen® Feed corn (Syngenta Seeds, Downers Grove, IL) or conventional yellow dent corn) and ground corn particle size (600 or 900 µm). Sows were blocked by parity and BW upon arrival to the farrowing house. There were approximately 27 sows per treatment, sow was considered the experimental unit, dietary treatment was a fixed effect, and sow group and block were used as random effects. Main effects of corn source and particle size as well as their interactions were tested. From farrowing to weaning, there was a tendency for a source×particle size interaction (P=0.065) for sow BW change. Sows fed 900 µm Enogen Feed corn had decreased BW loss compared to sows fed other treatments which were similar in BW loss. There was a source×particle size interaction (P=0.048) for lactation ADFI with sows fed 900 µm conventional yellow dent corn having lower feed intake than the sows fed 600 µm conventional yellow dent corn, whereas sows fed 900 µm Enogen Feed corn had greater feed intake compared to the sows fed 600 µm Enogen Feed corn. There was a tendency for a particle size main effect (P<0.10) for litter ADG (2,849 vs 2,635 g/d) and total litter gain (45.7 vs 42.3 kg), with sows fed corn ground to 600 µm having increased litter ADG and total litter gain compared to sows fed corn ground to 900 µm. In summary, there were few differences in sow or litter characteristics among corn sources. Reducing particle size of both corn sources tended to increase litter ADG and weaning weights.

280 Effects of metabolizable energy and standardized ileal digestible lysine levels on lactating sow and litter performance

The objective was to determine the effects of metabolizable energy (ME) and standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine (Lys) levels on lactating sows and litter performance. A total of 600 sows (Camborough; PIC, Hendersonville, TN) were blocked by parity (P1, P2, P3+) on d 112 of gestation and allotted to 1 of 6 treatments arranged in a 2 x 3 factorial with the main effect of ME (3.2 and 3.4 Mcal/kg) and SID Lys (0.70, 0.85, and 1.00 %). Corn-soybean meal-based diets were fed from farrowing until weaning (d 21±2.3). Litters were cross-fostered until 48-h after farrowing to equalize litter size. Sows were weighed at d 112 of gestation and at weaning. Litter size and weight were collected at 24-h post-farrow and weaning. Daily feed intake was recorded from 48-h post-farrow until weaning. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS with sow as the experimental unit. There was no evidence of interaction between ME and SID Lys for any response criteria. There was no evidence for an ME effect on sow performance. There was a quadratic effect (P< 0.05) of SID Lys on sow average daily feed intake, with the greatest intake at 0.85% SID Lys. Increasing SID Lys levels increased sow BW change (linear, P< 0.05). Litters from sows fed 3.4 Mcal of ME/kg had greater (P< 0.05) daily gain compared to those from sows fed 3.2 Mcal of ME/kg. Increasing SID Lys levels increased (linear, P< 0.05) litter weight at weaning and piglet daily gain. Wean-to-estrus interval, percentage of sows bred after weaning, total born on the subsequent parity, litter size at weaning, and percent of piglet removals were not influenced by dietary treatments. In summary, increasing ME levels did not affect sow performance, but improved litter and piglet daily gain. Increasing SID Lys levels improved both litter and sow performance.

Effects of soybean meal concentration in lactating sow diets on sow and litter performance and blood criteria1

A total of 131 sows (Line 241; DNA, Columbus, NE) were used in a study to evaluate the effect of increasing soybean meal concentration in lactating sow diets on sow and litter performance. Sows were blocked by body weight (BW) within parity on day 112 of gestation and allotted to one of three treatments of increasing dietary soybean meal (25%, 30%, or 35% of the total diet). Diets were formulated to 1.05% standardized ileal digestible lysine (Lys) with L-Lys HCl decreasing as soybean meal increased. All other amino acids and nutrients were formulated to meet nutrient requirement recommendations. Diets were fed from day 112 of gestation until weaning (day 20 ± 2). Litters were cross-fostered up to 48 h after farrowing to equalize litter size. Increasing soybean meal concentration increased (linear, P = 0.017) sow BW loss and tended to increase (quadratic, P = 0.052) sow backfat loss from farrowing to weaning. Sow average daily feed intake (ADFI) from day 0 to 7 was similar (P > 0.10) across dietary treatments. However, from day 7 to 14, 14 to weaning, and overall, ADFI decreased (linear, P = 0.01) as soybean meal concentration increased. Despite the linear response in ADFI, the greatest decrease was observed as soybean meal concentration increased from 30% to 35% of the diet. There was no evidence for difference (P > 0.10) in wean-to-estrus interval, litter size, litter weight, or litter weight gain between dietary treatments. Sow serum urea nitrogen concentrations taken on day 14 of lactation increased (linear, P = 0.001) as soybean meal concentration increased. There was no difference (P > 0.05) for sow creatinine concentration, regardless of dietary treatment, suggesting that the increased urea nitrogen was a reflection of the increased dietary crude protein as opposed to increased protein catabolism. In summary, sow feed intake decreased and weight loss increased as soybean meal concentration of the diet increased, with the greatest decrease observed at 35% of the total diet. Although there were no differences in litter performance, it appeared that 35% soybean meal in the lactation diet negatively affected feed intake.

Evaporative cooling system for gestating and lactating sows: a systematic review

ABSTRACT: Climatic characteristics of the production sites of pigs influence the yield of the system, with breeding sows being a category extremely sensitive to high temperatures, especially when their upper critical temperature is reached. This review evaluated the effects of the evaporative cooling system on environmental, physiological and performance parameters in breeding sows. By means of this review, a bibliographic search was performed using the following keywords: sow; swine; gilt and pig combined individually with the expression ‘evaporative cooling’. A total of 11 papers met the prerequisites determined to compose the systematic review and the studies involved gestating and lactating sows maintained in environments that presented ambient temperatures between 21.5 and 34.8 °C and relative humidity between 32.2 and 84.2%. The evaporative cooling system was used in order to cool the macro or micro environment. It can be concluded that the use of evaporative cooling system promotes increase in feed intake per lactating sow, decrease in weight loss in lactation, increase of weight of piglets at weaning, temperature reduction of the barns and decrease of the respiratory rate of the sows. For gestating sows, no changes in reproductive performance were reported.

PSV-8 Effects of soybean meal concentration in lactating sow diets on sow and litter performance

A total of 133 sows (Line 241; DNA, Columbus, NE) were used to evaluate the effect of increasing soybean meal concentration in lactating sow diets on sow and litter performance. Sows were blocked by body weight and parity on d 112 of gestation and allotted to 1 of 3 treatments of increasing soybean meal (25, 30, or 35% of total diet). Diets were formulated to contain 1.05% SID Lys with L-Lys HCl decreasing as soybean meal increased. All other amino acids and nutrients were formulated to meet nutrient requirement recommendations with L-threonine, DL-methionine, L-tryptophan, and L-valine added to the 25% SBM diet. Diets were fed from d 112 of gestation until weaning (d 20 ± 2). Litters were cross-fostered until 48 h after farrowing to equalize litter size. Sow average daily feed intake from d 0 to 7 was similar across dietary treatments. However, ADFI decreased from d 7 to 14, d 14 to weaning, and overall, (linear, P = 0.017) sow BW loss, and tended to increase (quadratic, P = 0.052) backfat loss from farrowing to weaning. There was no evidence for difference between dietary treatments in litter size, litter weight, nursing litter weight gain at weaning, or wean to estrus interval. Sow serum urea nitrogen concentrations taken on d 14 increased (linear, P = 0.001) as soybean meal concentration increased; however, there was no evidence for difference in serum creatinine. In summary, sow feed intake decreased and sow weight and backfat loss increased with increasing soybean meal concentration with no differences observed for litter performance.