SACCHARINA LEVELS DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION OF SOWS IN THEIR FIRST 2 REPRODUCTIVE-CYCLES

One hundred twenty females of a rotational cross of the Yorkshire, Lan drace and Hampshire breeds of 110 kg liveweight were individually hous ed to study the inclusion of two Saccharina levels in the pregnancy su pplement (0 and 60%) of a molasses 0 based diet and three levels in th e lactation concentrate (0, 10 and 20%). Animals were distributed acco rding to a simple classification design with a 2 x 3 factorial arrange ment and data were analysed through a linear model. There was no corre lation between Saccharina consumption during pregnancy and lactation n either were there differences in the liveweight variation of the sows and litter performance during the two cycles due to the consumption of this product during pregnancy. In the second cycle the weight loss du ring lactation increased (28.9; 36.9 and 37.0 kg) for the control, 10 and 20% of Saccharina, respectively and the weaning weight of the pigl ets decreased (148.1; 138.1 and 135.6 kg) as well as the net gain of t he cycle (18.1; 8.8 and 8.8 kg). The use of 60% Saccharina in the supp lement for pregnant sows consuming molasses B from their first reprodu ctive cycle is recommended and its inclusion in the concentrates of la ctating sows is discussed.