IMPACT OF FEEDING REGIMEN ON BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL INDICATORS FOR FEEDING AND MOTIVATION AND SATIETY, IMMUNE FUNCTION, PERFORMANCE OF GESTATING SOWS

The effect of daily or interval (every 3 d) feeding on body weight cha nge, blood glucose and cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations, immune fu nction, and behavioral activity were determined during the gestation p eriod of sows. Sows were fed a corn-soybean meal diet either 2 kg dail y or 6 kg once every 3rd d (interval). Body weight changes for the 42- d trial period were not different (P > .05) between regimens. Blood gl ucose concentrations were similar before feeding (P > .05). Two hours after feeding, glucose concentrations increased in interval-fed sows b ut not in daily-fed sows (P < .05). Premeal plasma CCK concentrations were greater for daily-fed sows than for interval-fed sows (P < .05). The CCK concentrations in sows of both regimens increased after feedin g above premeal levels (P < .05), and interval-fed sows exhibited high er concentrations than daily-fed sows (P < .05). Immune function as ev aluated through mitogen-induced proliferation of T cells was greater i n daily-fed sows than in interval-fed sows (P < .05). Daily-fed sows w ere more active overall and on any given day than interval-fed sows (P < .05) and thus seemed to expend more energy. Further, daily-fed sows exhibited higher levels of mouth-based activities (i.e., sham chewing , Licking, appetitive and consummatory feeding behavior, and excess dr inking) than sows restricted to consumption of one large meal every 3r d d. These indicators suggest that feeding motivation significantly af fected overall performance of sows. This study emphasizes the need for evaluating the impact of feeding regimens and meal size on feeding mo tivation and, ultimately, on the well-being of the gestating sows.