optimising annual sow output by increasing the number of viable piglets born alive through sow...

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?