The energy and nitrogen metabolism of pregnant and lactating sows and suckling piglets. 2. Chemical composition and energy content of the animal bodies of pregnant, non-pregnant and lactating sows
Beyer, M.; Jentsch, W.; Hoffmann, L.; Schiemann, R.
Archiv für Tierernährung 44(4): 317-338
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-942X PMID: 8215902 Accession: 047636599
The influence of litter number (1, 2 and 4, age of sows) as well as gestation and lactation stage of sows on the chemical composition and on the quantities of protein and fat of their bodies was investigated. The slaughter of 46 pregnant, 18 non-pregnant and 17 lactating sows were carried out at the 1st, 56th, 84th, 98th, 105th and 113th day of gestation, 113th day of experiment (non-pregnant sows) and 26th day of lactation. The results were related to the sows' energy supply (120, 100 and 80%) with equal supply of protein, vitamins and minerals. Within the tested litter numbers the chemical composition of the bodies was nearly constant during the whole time of gestation and lactation. A good agreement existed for the chemical composition of the sows' bodies of litter number 1 and 2. In comparison to them the bodies of litter number 4 contained more protein and less fat per kg dry matter. The quantities of body protein and fat increased in the gestation and decreased in the lactation period, in each case the quantities of fat exceeded than the quantities of protein. The quantities of body protein increased with higher litter number. The quantities of body fat increased from litter number 1 to 2 and were nearly equal in the sows of litter numbers 1 and 4. Within one litter number the amounts of body protein and fat attained the same level in pregnant, non-pregnant and lactating sows.