The shift to group housing with electronic sow feeders may be an opportunity for producers to adjust late-stage diets to include diets with higher amino acid levels for improved sow performance, said a University of Alberta graduate student.
Ashley Kok said by changing the diet at four weeks sows gained weight with no negative impacts.
The research showed the greater lysine intake resulted in a two kilogram weight gain near farrowing, improved caliper scores and sows had an eight kilogram increased weight post farrowing and an increase of six kilograms of weight at weaning. The backfat depth did not significantly increase. There appeared to be no negative effects on litter traits.
“If producers don’t see a low body condition they don’t need to switch. They can just continue with their diet. It is very convenient to switch with ESF and just two diets,” Kok told the Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada.
In her study, Kok wanted to know if feeding elevated amino acid diets during the final quarter of gestation significantly affects the protein utilization of sows as well as litter characteristics during lactation.
In the study she compared sow body characteristics between diets with elevated versus average amino acids during the final quarter of gestation. She also wanted to assess any sow and piglet body weight changes during lactation.
“With proper ESF installed it will be beneficial. It is very easy switch. They can see sows gaining more weight and they can mobilize less tissue to support fetus growth. If I did another trial, I would look at consecutive cycles to see if it can affect litter performance better as well.”
Kok said if the sows are thin, a simple diet change can help support protein accretion. Kok estimates having the option of the second higher amino acid diet costs $35, but improves sow health with limited work using the electronic sow feeders.
All the sows enrolled as parity zero to three advance to the next parity. Higher parity sows may also benefit from increased lysine intake in late gestation due to larger litters and high fetal growth demands, she said. •
— By Mary MacArthur