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Feeding the pregnant sow. Ray King, Program Manager, Pork CRC. The optimum level of feeding in pregnancy varies because of such factors as: size and body condition of sow environment housing health level of productivity. Live weight.
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Feeding the pregnant sow • Ray King, Program Manager, Pork CRC
The optimum level of feeding in pregnancy varies because of such factors as: • size and body condition of sow • environment • housing • health • level of productivity
Live weight • The sow requires an extra 2.9 MJ DE/day (or about 0.2 kg feed/day) for an increase of 30 kg in body weight
Environment • The sow requires an extra 6 MJ DE/day (or about 0.45 kg/d) for each 5ºC below the lower critical temperature
Housing • The sow kept in individual stalls may require an extra 2.5 MJ DE/day (or about 0.2 kg/d) because their activity is greater and, consequently, their energy requirement for maintenance is greater than that for group housed sows. In addition, the individually housed sow usually has a higher Lower Critical Temperature than sows kept in groups.
Health • If the disease burden in the herd is high, pregnant sows may require up to 0.5 kg feed/day to cover the extra energy requirements for maintenance
Feed intake in pregnancy • Feed levels need to be adjusted depending upon temperature, housing, sow size, health status. • Protein levels are usually adequate with minimum of 13% crude protein and 0.5% lysine. • No simple recipe for determining feed level for sows during pregnancy.