Table 4.

Timing and amount of feed delivered to sows prior to farrowing on farrowing duration, birth order and survival¹

Response	2.7 kg × 1 delivery	0.68 kg × 4 deliveries	Ad libitum × 4 deliveries	SEM	P−value
Farrowing duration2, min	209	200	214	1.16	0.226
Birth interval, min	13.6	13.7	14.3	1.07	0.448
Birth time of sixth pig, min	90.2	93.1	95.5	3.82	0.620
Outcome to 24 h3
Died at birth4, %	1.3	1.5	1.3	0.22	0.839
Laid on, %	5.0	5.2	5.2	0.41	0.950
Survived to 24 h, %	93.6	93.3	93.4	0.44	0.912
Outcome to weaning3
Euthanized at 24 h, %	2.5	2.1	2.8	0.31	0.110
Fall−behind, %	7.5a	6.3ab	5.9b	0.52	0.012
Dead, %	7.6a	6.1b	6.6ab	0.49	0.027
Weaned, %	74.3b	77.6a	76.1ab	0.80	0.006

¹A total of 727 mixed parity sows were used from entry into the farrowing house (day 113 ± 2 of gestation) until weaning. Sows were weighed, blocked by parity category and weight, and allotted to treatment at time of entry to the farrowing house. Treatments consisted of (1) sows fed 2.7 kg lactation diet once daily at 0700 hours; (2) sows fed 2.7 kg lactation diet four times daily in 0.68 kg meals (0100, 0700, 1300, and 1900 hours); and (3) sows fed on an ad libitum basis lactation diet and encouraged to consume meals every four times daily (0100, 0700, 1300, and 1900 h). Weaning occurred on day 21.7 (± 3.3 d) of lactation.

²Time from birth of first piglet to last piglet.

³Calculations use the count of the variable divided by born alive count. Analyzed as a binominal.

⁴Died within an hour after birth, includes low viable, deformed, and savaged pigs.