A regional evaluation of the effect of fibre type in gestation diets on sow reproductive performance
CS Darroch, CR Dove, CV Maxwell, ZB Johnson and LL Southern 2008. Journal of Animal Science, 86: 1573-1578.
06-Nov-2008 (17 years 7 months 1 days ago)The present experiment was conducted to compare the effects of feeding no added
fibre or fibre from soybean hulls or psyllium during gestation on reproductive
performance of sows.
A total of 194 sows or gilts were used. Animals were allotted to the 3 treatments
of control (corn-soybean meal diet), control diet plus 0.30% psyllium or control
diet with 20% soybean hulls. The Lys and ME concentrations were reduced in the
diet with soybean hulls. Calcium, phosphorus, salt and the vitamin premix also
were reduced to keep a constant nutrient: ME ratio. Sows were weighed at mating,
day 110 of gestation, 12h postpartum, 17 days postpartum and at weaning. Feed
consumption was collected from day 110 to day 4 postpartum, from day 4 to 7,
from day 8 to 14, from day 15 to 21 postpartum. Faecal samples were collected
on day 112 of gestation and day 4 postpartum, and were scored on day 112 of
gestation and day 4 postpartum, the scores ranged from 1 to 5 (with 1 = dry
and 5 = watery).
Gestating sows fed psyllium showed higher BW and ADG on days 110 of gestation,
farrowing, 17 days postpartum and weaning compared with sows fed soybean hulls.
Sows fed psyllium also had a higher BW and gestation ADG than the sows fed the
control diet. Sows fed soybean hulls had a reduced farrowing BW compared with
the control. Sows fed psyllium weaned lighter pigs than sows fed the control
diet. Faecal scores were higher and DM content decreased in faeces of the sows
fed soybean hulls compared with sows fed psyllium or the control diet on day
112 gestation and day 4 postpartum.
I n conclusion, sows fed soybean hulls during gestation had reduced farrowing
BW compared with sows fed the control diets. Sows fed psyllium had an increased
BW through the reproductive cycle.