Table 4.
Effects of feed intake in the last third of gestation on the performance of sows and piglets during the lactation period1
| Feed intake, kg2 | Probability, P < | ||||||
| Item | 1.8 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 | SEM | ||
| n = 61 | n = 66 | n = 55 | n = 63 | Linear | Quadratic | ||
| Colostrum yield, kg | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 0.26 | 0.016 | 0.703 |
| Post-farrowing weight, kg | 176.8 | 180.8 | 185.3 | 188.5 | 1.32 | <0.001 | 0.668 |
| Voluntary feed intake, kg | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 0.23 | 0.001 | 0.165 |
| Lactation weight change, kg | −14.3 | −16.8 | −20.8 | −19.2 | 1.31 | <0.001 | 0.058 |
| Lactation weight change, % | −8.1 | −9.3 | −11.3 | −10.4 | 0.75 | <0.001 | 0.169 |
| Litter size after cross-fostering, n | 13.6 | 13.7 | 13.5 | 13.6 | 0.20 | 0.815 | 0.818 |
| Piglets weight after cross-fostering, g | 1411 | 1450 | 1411 | 1388 | 26.86 | 0.339 | 0.225 |
| Litter weight after cross-fostering, kg | 19.2 | 19.7 | 19.1 | 18.9 | 0.37 | 0.332 | 0.292 |
| Weaned piglets, % | 87.9 | 86.8 | 87.5 | 86.9 | 1.18 | 0.677 | 0.854 |
| Litter weight on day 19, kg | 59.2 | 58.2 | 59.2 | 59.9 | 2.08 | 0.494 | 0.401 |
| Individual weaning weight on day 19, kg | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 0.16 | 0.196 | 0.489 |
1A total of 245 females (Landrace × Large White) were used, with 61, 66, 55, and 63 females for the treatments 1.8, 2.3, 2.8, and 3.3 kg/d, respectively.
2Feed intake: 1.8, 2.3, 2.8, and 3.3 kg/d from day 90 of gestation until farrowing.