optimising annual sow output by increasing the number of viable piglets born alive through sow...
TRANSCRIPT
Optimising annual sow output by increasing the number of viable piglets born alive
through sow nutrition
K. Reid1*, K. O’Driscoll1, E. Magowan2, J. O’Doherty3, P. Lawlor1
Pig Development Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
1Teagasc, 2AFBI, 3University College Dublin
No. pigs/sow/year to levels achieved in most efficient pig producing countries by:
1. Pigs born alive/litter2. Survival of pigs born alive
OPTIPIG PROJECT
Pigs born alive/litter Pigs weaned/litter Pigs sold/sow/year0
5
10
15
20
25
30
15.6
13.48
28.48
13.511.64
25.74
14.212.31
27.79
12.711.28
25.4
Comparison of sow output parameters between the leading pig producing countries and Ireland
Denmark
France
Netherlands
Ireland
Sow output parameters
Num
ber o
f pig
lets
(INTERPIG, 2014)
INCREASING LITTER SIZE
2004 2014
21.8
25.3 Top 25% 27.5Pigs/sow/year
in Ireland
- Intrauterine crowding: Low birth weight & stunting
- Birth weight variation
- Stillbirths
- Impaired piglet vitality
- Poor lifetime performance
- Preweaning mortality
However, increasing litter size often leads to….
3 SOW NUTRITION TRIALS
Born alive & piglet viability
Subsequent farrowing rate & litter size
Birth weight, within-litter birth weight variation & vitality
FOCUS ON SOW NUTRITION
L-Arginine &
L-Carnitine
Increase feed intake in late
gestation
L-ARGININE
- Enhances placental growth and efficiency
- Improves placental-foetal blood flow
- transportation of oxygen and nutrients to the developing foetus
Supplementation period Effect
D28-Farrowing born alive birth weight birth weight variation
- Amino acid (~25g/day)
- Placenta growth occurs primarily between d20-60 of gestation and peaks around d70
- Break down of fatty acids to generate energy
- Piglets can more readily break down fat stores - more energy for heat production
and suckling
L-CARNITINE
Lean tissueMuscle fibre
Energy
- no. muscle fibres at birth by up to 28% = birth weights
- Protein/lean deposition fat accretion = growth rate and FCE
- Quaternary ammonium compound (AA: lysine and methionine) (~100mg/day)
Potentially greatest impact on low birth weight piglets??
- Birth weight – effects unclear
- Piglet glycogen stores at birth
INCREASE FEED INTAKE IN LATE GESTATION
- Able to cope with a higher plane of nutrition in early lactation:
total lactation feed intake milk production
- Improve subsequent farrowing rate
Overview of trials
1. L-Arginine and L-Carnitine
(d28 – farrowing)
Litter measurementsBorn alive
Stillborn – Type I or IIMummified Total born
Birth weightCross-fostering
Numbers weanedWeaning weight
Second stage weaner weightFinishing weight
Vitality scoring (within 3 hours birth)Weight
MovementRectal Temperature
Abdominal circumferenceCrown to rump length
Body Mass indexPonderal index
Sow measurementsBack fat : service, farrowing, weaning
Lactation feed intakeDry feed intake
Weaning to oestrus intervalSubsequent farrowing rate
Colostrum Quality
~110 sows/treatment
2. Increase feed intake(~d80 to farrowing by ~ 1kg)
~230 sows/treatment
1200 sow integrated unit in Co Offaly
PROGRESS TO DATE
1. L-Arginine and L-Carnitine
• 12/16 reps farrowed
• Preliminary results:• Carnitine increases piglet birth weight by ~75g • Arg+Car offspring appear to be heavier at weaning
• 1st offspring slaughtered
• Finish farrowing January 2016
2. Increase feed intake
• Assigning sows to treatment• First sows to farrow January 2016• Will meet NRC requirements for all parities at all stages
:
70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 11520
25
30
35
40
45
50
Control
Feed Increase
Days of gestation
MJ
DE
/day
Proposed rate of increase
Take home messages…
- litter size - more precise nutrition of gestating sows.
- Potential opportunity to improve piglet viability through the use of L-Arginine and L-Carnitine supplements.
- Majority of research undertaken has been on litter sizes markedly smaller than seen commercially. Research required in highly prolific sows.
- feed intake in late gestation - lactation feed intakes and enhance subsequent farrowing rate. Effects on birth weight inconsistent.
- Renewed focus on piglet survival and viability rather than total numbers of piglets born.
THANKS FOR LISTENING!
Any questions?