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?