PSXI-6 Effects of different feeding strategies during gestation on the reproductive performance of crossbred Landrace-Yorkshire sows

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different feeding strategies during gestation on the reproductive performance of sows. A total of 1121 American Landrace-Yorkshire (YL) crossbred sows and parity from 1 to 4 were assigned randomly to “North American System” feeding pattern or “Danish System” feeding pattern during gestation basing on the backfat thickness and body weight. Sows received the same diet and fed ad libitum during lactation. Results showed that over the entire gestation period, there was also no difference in average daily feed intake and total feed intake between two groups (P > 0.05). “Danish System” group has significantly improved the backfat thickness at gestation 30 d (P < 0.01). At 110 d of gestation, there was no difference of the backfat thickness between two groups (P > 0.05). “Danish System” group had significantly increased the total number of born (P = 0.02) and born alive (P = 0.04). The number of total born (P = 0.04), stillborn (P = 0.05) and mummies (P = 0.02), had significantly different in between parities of sows. Mummies had significantly interaction effect (P = 0.01). No different was observed for the number of weaned pigs, litter weight at weaning, piglet weight, and weaning to oestrus interval between two groups. However, a significant increase of litter weight at weaning, piglet weight, was associated with increased parity of sow (P < 0.01). The results of the present investigation showed that “Danish System” group could significantly increase the litter size and number born alive. Our findings point to the importance that the Danish system can be applied to North American genotypes.