Efficiency of food utilization by pregnant and lactating sows. 1. The influence of diets with different concentrations of energy on pregnancy and lactation
Burlacu, G.; Iliescu, M.; Caramida, P.
Archiv für Tierernährung 33(1): 23-45
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-942X Accession: 001193388
1. The efficiency of utilization of diets with different energy concentrations based on maize, soya bean meal and starch were studied, compared with a control diet in current use in the feeding of pregnant sows and the efficiency of utilization of a diet based on maize and soya bean meal in lactating sows. The diets were used by pregnant sows as digestible (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) at 75.2 to 91.6% and 72.1 to 90.3%, respectively, depending on their crude fibre content. The efficiency of ME utilization as net energy in pregnant sows was 86.5%. The energy requirements for maintenance and pregnancy (y) are given by the equation: y = 376 + 0.005821 e0.07467t in which t is days of pregnancy.The energy content of the diets given to the pregnant sows had no influence on the number and bodyweight of the piglets but influenced feed intake in the following lactation in the group with low energy content during pregnancy, in which a higher intake with about 400 g food daily during lactation was registered. The lactating sows utilized the food as DE and ME uniformly during lactation, the efficiency of ME utilization for lactation being 71.2%. The ME requirement for maintenance during lactation was 512 kJ/kg0.75. The milk yield of the sows represented 22 to 33% of the gross energy intake and reached the maximum during the third week of lactation. The newborn piglets grew depending on the milk yield of the sows, utilizing the food (maternal milk + additional concentrates) with an efficiency of 84.5 to 99.8% as DE, of 82.6 to 99.0% as ME and of 84.4% as net energy. The ME requirement for maintenance of piglets was 444 kJ/kg0.75.