On farm precision feeding of gestating sows based on energy and amino acids on farrowing performances and feeding behavior over 3 consecutive gestations.

Gestating sows are often fed a single diet throughout their gestation cycle, leading to situations of nutrients deficiency or excess at the individual level. The purpose of this study was to characterize, over 3 consecutive cycles, the impact of a precision feeding (PF), i.e.

Results of 15 Years of Precision Feeding of Hyper Prolific Gestating Sows.

The increase in prolificacy at weaning is less than that at farrowing due to increased loss of piglets. As a result, farmers focus more on solutions that can prevent difficult parturition or a decrease in milk production. The body condition of the sow influences both factors.

Strategies to Meet Nutritional Requirements and Reduce Boar Taint in Meat from Entire Male Pigs and Immunocastrates.

This paper reviews the current knowledge on the nutritional requirements of entire male and immunocastrated pigs to obtain an efficient growth, low boar taint level, and good carcass and meat quality. We present the reasons for offering entire males ad libitum access to the diets in order to optimize their protein deposition potential. Boar taint is one of the major issues in the production of entire males; therefore, the impact of various skatole- and indole-reducing feed ingredients is discussed regarding their efficiency and the possible mechanism affecting skatole and indole production in the hindgut.

Evaluation of a decision support system for precision feeding of gestating sows.

Precision feeding (PF) with the daily mixing of 2 diets with different lysine content (high (H) or low (L)) was previously reported for growing pigs to reduce protein intake and N excretion compared with a conventional feeding (CF) based on a single diet (C). Using a simulation approach based on farm data, the objective of the present paper was to describe and evaluate a decision support system for the PF of gestating sows allowing the daily distribution of a tailored ration to each sow. Two datasets, 1 of 2,511 gestations (farm A) and 1 of 2,528 gestations (farm B), reporting sows' characteristics at insemination and objectives at farrowing were used as inputs for a Python model.

Supplying dextrose before insemination and L-arginine during the last third of pregnancy in sow diets: effects on within-litter variation of piglet birth weight.

Preweaning piglet mortality is largely attributed to the incidence of low birth weight and birth weight variation within the litter. Therefore, developing strategies to increase within-litter uniformity of piglet birth weight is important. This study investigated the effects of different feeding strategies based on specific nutrient supplies in sow diet on the within-litter variation of piglet birth weight (BW0).

The effect of immunization against GnRF on nutrient requirements of male pigs: a review.

In most countries, male pigs are physically castrated soon after birth to reduce the risk of boar taint and to avoid behaviours such as fighting and mounting. However, entire male pigs are more feed efficient and deposit less fat than barrows. In addition, many animal welfare organizations are lobbying for a cessation of castration, with a likelihood that this could lead to inferior pork unless an alternative method is used to control boar taint.

Accounting for variability among individual pigs in deterministic growth models.

Inclusion of variation in deterministic nutritional models for growth by repeating simulations using different sets of parameters has been performed in literature without or with only hypothetic consideration of the covariance structure among parameters. However, a description of the structure of links among parameters describing individuals is required to generate realistic sets of parameters. In this study, the mean and covariance structure of model parameters describing feed intake and growth were analyzed from 10 batches of crossbred gilts and barrows.

Effect of feed restriction on the performance and behaviour of pigs immunologically castrated with Improvac®.

For centuries, entire male pigs have been castrated to reduce the risk of boar taint. However, physical castration of pig is increasingly being questioned with regard to animal welfare considerations. Immunization against gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) provides an alternative to physical castration.

Effect of the dietary net energy concentration on feed intake and performance of growing-finishing pigs housed individually.

The effect of dietary NE content on feed intake and performance of pigs was investigated using crossbred barrows with initial and final BW of approximately 35 and 110 kg, respectively. Pigs were housed individually and allowed ad libitum access to feed. Pigs were randomly allotted to 6 wheat and soybean meal-based diets (8.

Analysis of factors to predict piglet body weight at the end of the nursery phase.

In pig (Sus Scrofa) production, within-batch variation in bw gain of piglets during the nursery period (up to 10 wk of age) can be high and is of high economic importance. Homogeneity of BW within batches of animals is important as it influences the efficiency of use of the grower and finisher facilities, and provides an extra value for the fattening farms. In the current study, factors for a light BW at the end of the nursery period of pigs were determined by analyzing datasets from 3 different swine research centers in the Netherlands and France.

Influence of some sow characteristics on within-litter variation of piglet birth weight.

Within-litter variation of piglet birth weight (BW0) is associated with an increased piglet mortality and a high variability in pig weight at weaning and weight or age at slaughter. Data collected in two experimental herds were used to quantify within-litter variability in BW0 and to assess the influence of factors mainly related to the sow. Within 24 h after birth, piglets born alive were individually weighed and stillborn piglets were collectively (first data set) or individually (second data set) weighed.

Effect of dietary fat or starch supply during gestation and/or lactation on the performance of sows, piglets' survival and on the performance of progeny after weaning.

Two trials were carried out to compare the effects of fat or starch inclusion in sow's diet on sow and litter performance. In each trial, sows were assigned to one of two treatments. In trial 1, the sows were fed diets containing either soybean oil (5%, treatment GL5) or cornstarch (11.

Effects of exposure to high ambient temperature and dietary protein level on performance of multiparous lactating sows.

Fifty-nine multiparous Large White x Landrace sows were used to determine the effects of high ambient temperature and level of dietary heat increment on lactation and reproductive performance. During a 28-d lactation and the 14-d postweaning period, ambient temperature was maintained constant at 20 or 29 degrees C. Experimental diets fed during lactation were a control diet (NP; 17.

Modelling heat production and energy balance in group-housed growing pigs exposed to low or high ambient temperatures.

The effects of ambient temperature (T; 12-29 degrees C), body weight (BW; 30-90 kg) and metabolisable energy intake (ME) on components of energy balance were studied in seven groups of Piétrain x Large White barrows kept in a respiratory chamber. In Expt 1 (groups 1, 2 and 3), T varied in a cyclic way from 22 degrees C to 12 degrees C and then from 12 degrees C to 22 degrees C with three or four consecutive days at each of 22, 19, 16, 14 and 12 degrees C. Similarly, in Expt 2 (groups 4, 5 and 6), T varied from 19 to 29 degrees C and then from 29 to 19 degrees C with three or four consecutive days at each of 19, 22, 25, 27 and 29 degrees C.

Influence of high ambient temperatures on performance of multiparous lactating sows.

Multiparous Large White sows (n = 63) were used to investigate the effects of five ambient temperatures (18, 22, 25, 27, and 29 degrees C) and two dietary protein contents on their lactation performance. At each temperature treatment, ambient temperature was maintained constant over the 21-d lactation period. Dietary protein content was either 14 or 17% with essential amino acids levels calculated not to be limiting.