Optimise production by focusing on body condition throughout gestation
DanBred breeding animals come with an extraordinary genetic potential for reproductive performance. Focusing on body condition throughout the gestation period has shown to be highly correlated to success in the farrowing unit and subsequent lifetime reproductive productivity.
Enhance performance at farrowing
Feeding during gestation serve 3 purposes:
- Successful conception and embryo implantation
- Ideal body condition for the lactation period
- Optimum uterine and maternal growth
The vast part of gestation feeding should be focused on restoring body condition from the previous lactation to ensure optimum lifetime productivity. The last 4 weeks of gestation feeding should be changed for optimised piglet birth weight as well as building and maintaining optimal body condition towards gestation (Van Heugten). Feeding sows according to body condition either individually or in groups by body condition will enhance performance at farrowing and optimise overall feed consumption (DPRC, 2013). It has been shown that feeding according to body condition and optimum back fat thickness (BFT) will significantly increase the number of live born piglets, optimise milk production and also reduces the risk of developing shoulder ulcers during lactation (Sørensen, 2010).
The recommended approach for feeding of DanBred breeding animals during gestation is to set 4 different feeding curves:
- Thin sows (BFT ≤ 11 mm)
- Average sows (BFT 12-14 mm)
- Fat sows (BFT >15 mm)
- Gilts
Each feed curve will ensure optimised nutritional balance in relation to the BFT as well as the time in gestation. By following DanBred's ideal standards, the diet should keep an energy density of 9.5 MJ NE/12.5 MJ ME/1.05 EW and around 4.12 g Standardized Ileal Digestible (SID) per kg feed. The standards are based on the conditions in a temperate climate, however. temperature and humidity can have a big influence on feed consumption and should always be taken into consideration when formulating gestation feed. Feeding the full ration once per day will keep the sows full for longer and help to ensure a balanced behaviour among the sows (DPRC, 2013). Body condition and optimum BFT should remain in focus throughout gestation as this has a significant impact on the number of live born piglets as well as the base for optimised milk production.