Effects of dietary fiber during gestation on sow reproductive performance
Abstract
Although fiber in gestational diets has been reported to be beneficial, there are contradicting results, and to this day there is not a set recommendation on its use. In the first experiment, two levels of total dietary fiber (TDF) with the same insoluble to soluble fiber ratio (ISF:SF) were used. Overall, sows fed the 9% TDF diet were heavier at placement in lactation (306.6 vs. 280.6 kg; P = 0.012,). However, sows fed a 18% TDF gestation diet tended to lose less weight during lactation (17.0 vs. 4.0 kg; P = 0.080). Consequently, sows fed the low fiber diet had more over-conditioned sows on d 45 and 90 (54.23% vs. 22.92% and 56.38% vs. 21.58% respectively; P < 0.001). There were no differences for total born, born alive, stillborn or weaned pigs. In the second experiment, sows received the same TDF, but two different ISF:SF ratios. Results showed that sow BW at placement in the farrowing was not different between diets (P = 0.747). On d 45 and 90, BCS were one unit higher for the low ratio diet (12.09 vs. 11.11 and 13.00 vs. 12.15 units respectively; P < 0.001). In addition, the low ratio diet group tended to have more fat sows (15.60% vs. 9.10%; P = 0.080). Similar to our first experiment, there were no diet effects on total born, stillborn or weaned pigs, but there was an interaction for born alive pigs (P = 0.046). Additionally, there was no effect on litter performance. In the third experiment, a diet supplemented with a stimbiotic was compared to a control, with same TDF and ISF: SF. Our data showed that there was a tendency for an interaction between diet and body condition (P = 0.097) for farrowing rate. Thin sows fed the stimbiotic supplemented diet had a higher farrowing rate (10% difference, P = 0.043). Sow BW and BCS were not different between treatments. Overall, diet had no effect on litter size and performance. Results from these experiments indicated that a 18% TDF fiber with 7.5 ISF:SF was beneficial in controlling body condition in the herd without impacting performance, and a lower ISF:SF or using a stimbiotic did not improve sow or litter performance.
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- OSU Dissertations [11222]