POSTPARTUM HYPOPHAGIA IN PRIMIPAROUS SOWS .1. EFFECTS OF GESTATION FEEDING LEVEL ON FEED-INTAKE, FEEDING-BEHAVIOR, AND PLASMA METABOLITE CONCENTRATIONS DURING LACTATION
Wc. Weldon et al., POSTPARTUM HYPOPHAGIA IN PRIMIPAROUS SOWS .1. EFFECTS OF GESTATION FEEDING LEVEL ON FEED-INTAKE, FEEDING-BEHAVIOR, AND PLASMA METABOLITE CONCENTRATIONS DURING LACTATION, Journal of animal science, 72(2), 1994, pp. 387-394
To investigate the relationship between feeding level during gestation
and voluntary feed intake, feeding behavior, and plasma metabolite le
vels during lactation, 18 crossbred, primiparous sows were assigned to
two dietary treatments. From d 60 of gestation until farrowing, sows
were fed either a standard level of feed (SL; 1.85 kg/d) or were allow
ed ad libitum (AL) access to feed. During 28-d lactation all sows were
allowed ad libitum access to feed. Eight SL and seven AL sows complet
ed the experiment. Feed intake was measured daily during the final 40
d of gestation and throughout lactation. On d 105 of gestation and d 1
, 7, 14, and 21 of lactation, feeding behavior was observed and blood
samples were collected via indwelling catheters. Plasma was analyzed f
or nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), insulin, glucose, and alpha-amino
N. During gestation AL sows ate more feed than did SL sows. This incr
eased intake was balanced by reduced feed intake during lactation, whe
n AL sows ate less than SL sows (P < .001). The AL sows gained more we
ight during gestation (P < .001) and lost more weight during lactation
(P < .005) than did the SL sows. Feed intake and weight change during
gestation and lactation combined were not different between treatment
s (P = .85). During lactation, the AL sows ate fewer meals (P < .05) o
f a similar size than did the SL sows. During lactation, the area unde
r the curve formed by plasma NEFA concentration was greater (P = .06)
and that for insulin was less (P < .01) in AL than in SL sows. Plasma
glucose and alpha-amino N were not affected by gestation feeding level
. Increased insulin secretion in SL sows may have increased hunger by
reducing the mobilization of NEFA and by increasing peripheral glucose
utilization.