RESUMO

This study was conducted to evaluate how the amount and type of diet consumed during the wean-to-estrus interval (WEI) affects reproductive performance and WEI duration in sows. A total of 542 sows were distributed into the following treatment groups based on a 2 × 2 factorial design: feed amount during WEI (2.75 or 3.75 kg/day) and diet (gestation [G] or lactation [L]) groups. Dietary treatments were as follows: high supply of G diet (GH), low supply of G diet (GL), high supply of L diet (LH), and low supply of L diet (LL). Sows were randomly allocated to groups according to their body score Caliper and birth order. There was an interaction (P 0.05) between the factors for WEI duration, which was 0.2 days shorter in the GH and LL groups than in the other groups. No difference was observed between treatments (P>0.05) for the birth rate, total births, stillbirths, or total litter weight. There was a trend (P 0.10) toward a higher rate of live births in sows fed with G diet and sows receiving a low diet supply, with an average of 91.95% for both groups. In addition, there was a positive trend (P 0.10) for live weight of the litter, where GH and LL treatments resulted in higher birth weight (17.9 and 17.7 kg, respectively) than other treatments. In conclusion, a supply of 3.75 kg/day or the use of a more energetic feed (lactation) during the WEI did not improve the reproductive performance of the subsequent cycle of sows in good body condition.(AU)

Este experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da quantidade e tipo de dieta consumida durante o intervalo desmame-estro (IDE) sobre o desempenho ao parto subsequente e tempo de IDE de fêmeas suínas. Foram utilizadas 542 fêmeas, distribuídas em um delineamento fatorial 2×2 com duas quantidades de alimento fornecido durante o IDE (2,75 ou 3,75 kg/dia) e dois tipos de dieta (gestação - G ou lactação - L), sendo: Alto fornecimento de dieta G (GA), menor fornecimento de G (GM), alto fornecimento de L (LA) e menor fornecimento de L (LM). As fêmeas foram aleatoriamente distribuídas entre os tratamentos em blocos de acordo com o escore corporal Caliper e ordem de parto. Houve interação para tempo de IDE (P 0,05) entre a quantidade de ração e o tipo da dieta consumida durante o período, o qual foi 0,2 dias mais curto nos grupos GA e LM. Não houve diferença entre os tratamentos (P>0,05) sobre a taxa de parto, total de nascidos, natimortos e peso total da leitegada. Houve uma tendência para maior taxa de nascidos vivos (P 0,10) nas fêmeas que consumiram a dieta G, e nas fêmeas que receberam o menor fornecimento de ração, com média de 91,95%, para ambos os fatores. Além disso, foi observada tendência positiva (P 0,10) para o peso vivo da leitegada, em que GA e LM apresentaram maior peso ao nascer (17,9 e 17,7 kg, respectivamente). Em conclusão, o fornecimento de 3,75 kg/dia, ou o uso de uma dieta mais energética (lactação) durante o IDE, não melhora o desempenho reprodutivo do ciclo subsequente de fêmeas suínas em boa condição corporal.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to evaluate how the amount and type of diet consumed during the wean-to-estrus interval (WEI) affects reproductive performance and WEI duration in sows. A total of 542 sows were distributed into the following treatment groups based on a 2 × 2 factorial design: feed amount during WEI (2.75 or 3.75 kg/day) and diet (gestation [G] or lactation [L]) groups. Dietary treatments were as follows: high supply of G diet (GH), low supply of G diet (GL), high supply of L diet (LH), and low supply of L diet (LL). Sows were randomly allocated to groups according to their body score Caliper and birth order. There was an interaction (P < 0.05) between the factors for WEI duration, which was 0.2 days shorter in the GH and LL groups than in the other groups. No difference was observed between treatments (P>0.05) for the birth rate, total births, stillbirths, or total litter weight. There was a trend (P<0.10) toward a higher rate of live births in sows fed with G diet and sows receiving a low diet supply, with an average of 91.95% for both groups. In addition, there was a positive trend (P < 0.10) for live weight of the litter, where GH and LL treatments resulted in higher birth weight (17.9 and 17.7 kg, respectively) than other treatments. In conclusion, a supply of 3.75 kg/day or the use of a more energetic feed (lactation) during the WEI did not improve the reproductive performance of the subsequent cycle of sows in good body condition.

RESUMO: Este experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da quantidade e tipo de dieta consumida durante o intervalo desmame-estro (IDE) sobre o desempenho ao parto subsequente e tempo de IDE de fêmeas suínas. Foram utilizadas 542 fêmeas, distribuídas em um delineamento fatorial 2×2 com duas quantidades de alimento fornecido durante o IDE (2,75 ou 3,75 kg/dia) e dois tipos de dieta (gestação - G ou lactação - L), sendo: Alto fornecimento de dieta G (GA), menor fornecimento de G (GM), alto fornecimento de L (LA) e menor fornecimento de L (LM). As fêmeas foram aleatoriamente distribuídas entre os tratamentos em blocos de acordo com o escore corporal Caliper e ordem de parto. Houve interação para tempo de IDE (P<0,05) entre a quantidade de ração e o tipo da dieta consumida durante o período, o qual foi 0,2 dias mais curto nos grupos GA e LM. Não houve diferença entre os tratamentos (P>0,05) sobre a taxa de parto, total de nascidos, natimortos e peso total da leitegada. Houve uma tendência para maior taxa de nascidos vivos (P<0,10) nas fêmeas que consumiram a dieta G, e nas fêmeas que receberam o menor fornecimento de ração, com média de 91,95%, para ambos os fatores. Além disso, foi observada tendência positiva (P<0,10) para o peso vivo da leitegada, em que GA e LM apresentaram maior peso ao nascer (17,9 e 17,7 kg, respectivamente). Em conclusão, o fornecimento de 3,75 kg/dia, ou o uso de uma dieta mais energética (lactação) durante o IDE, não melhora o desempenho reprodutivo do ciclo subsequente de fêmeas suínas em boa condição corporal.

RESUMO

Background: In tropical and subtropical regions, temperature values above thermoneutrality for pigs are often experienced and lactating sows maintained outside the thermal comfort zone might have their performance compromised. The use of ventilation or evaporative cooling to maintain animal thermoregulation might be alternatives to minimise animal production losses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of three different systems for the control of environmental temperature on the productivity of sows and their litters. Materials, Methods & Results: Three systems of environmental temperature control were evaluated: air-conditioned: AC (n = 79), with farrowing facility temperature controlled by a system of evaporative cooling pads combined with negative pressure ventilation; snout cooler: SC (n = 82), with a cold air outlet directed toward sows, combined with management of curtains; and management of curtains: MC (n = 83). Piglet weight was recorded at cross-fostering, and at 14 and 20 days of age. Temperature (TEMP) and relative humidity (RH) were measured daily at five time points (8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00 h). The variables concerning the sows were analysed with the MIXED procedure of SAS, including the fixed effect of system and random effects of period and period × system interaction. The weight of piglets, TEMP and RH inside the farrowing facility were analysed as repeated measures using the MIXED procedure. Means were compared with the Tukey-Kramer test. The weight of sows at farrowing, the number of cross-fostered piglets and weight of piglets at cross-fostering were similar among the systems (P > 0.10), with overall means of 241.2 kg, 11.4 piglets and 1.4 kg, respectively. In the AC system, TEMP (23.1ºC) was on average lower (P < 0.05) than in the SC (26.8ºC) and MC (26.8ºC) systems. Overall, higher RH (P < 0.05) was observed in AC (88.3%) than in SC (74.5%) and MC (73.6%) systems. Sows of the MC system had a lower daily feed intake (DFI) than AC sows (P < 0.05) and tended (P = 0.082) to have lower DFI than SC sows (4.7 vs. 5.2 vs. 5.1 kg for MC, AC and SC sows, respectively). There were no differences (P > 0.10) among AC, SC and MC systems regarding sow weight loss during lactation (3.3% vs. 5.0% vs. 4.0%) and weaning-to-estrus interval (4.5 d vs. 5.0 d vs. 4.5 d). The number of weaned piglets was similar among the systems (P > 0.10) with an overall mean of 10.8 weaned piglets. The weight of piglets at weaning tended to be lower (P = 0.083) in the MC than the SC system (5,977 g vs. 6,209 g), whereas piglets of the AC system had an intermediate weight (6,152 g). Discussion: The temperature in SC and MC systems was above the upper critical temperature for sows, mainly between 12:00 and 16:00, which could explain the lower feed intake of sows in the MC system. The higher feed intake of SC sows compared to MC sows is probably related to the microenvironment created by the fresh air over the heads of SC sows improving their thermoregulation and comfort, and preventing a reduction in feed intake. The AC system was the most efficient in reducing the temperature in the farrowing facility. However, the higher feed intake of AC sows compared to that of MC sows did not result in differences in piglet weight. As the temperature in the AC system was close to the lower critical temperature for the piglets, heating provided to piglets was probably insufficient and they required an extra energetic demand for heat production to maintain their body temperature. The higher weight of SC piglets is probably explained by the higher feed intake of sows and by the fact that temperature in the farrowing facility did not decrease as in the AC system.

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