ENDOCRINE AND PERIPARTUM BEHAVIORAL-RESPONSES OF SOWS FED HIGH-FIBER DIETS DURING GESTATION

The effect of feeding high-fiber diets during gestation on concentrati ons of prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2) and progesterone and on peripar tum behavior of sows was studied. Eighty-five gilts were fed during tw o gestations a diet based either on corn-soybean (D1), corn cobs and w heat bran (D2) or oats and oat hulls (D3). The total daily intake of e nergy and protein was calculated to be similar for the three diets. Th ere was a tendency (P = 0.08) for PRL concentrations to be increased i n sows fed D2. There was also a time x treatment interaction (P < 0.01 ) on E2, with the treatment effect being significant on days 35 and 11 2 of gestation and the treatment x parity interaction being significan t at 24 h postpartum. Postural behaviors of the sows varied greatly in relation with time of farrowing and were also affected by parity. Dur ing the peripartum period, second parity sows fed D1 or D3 spent more time standing and less time lying on their side than first parity sows , but these differences were not observed when sows were fed D2. The p resent results indicate that sows fed the 10.1% CF diet (D2) throughou t gestation tended to have greater concentrations of prolactin and als o seemed calmer around parturition.