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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #107728
Title: SUPPLEMENTAL COPPER PROTEINATE FOR SOWS

Author
item Yen, Jong Tseng
item Ford, Johny
item Klindt, John

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/14/2000
Publication Date: 3/13/2000
Citation: Yen, J., Ford, J.J., Klindt, J.M. 2000. Supplemental copper proteinate for sows [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 78(Supp. 2):54.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Our previous study showed that supplemental copper proteinate (CuP) increased percent young sows bred < 7 d postweaning from 70 to 87%. The present study, was conducted to determine the effect of supplemental CuP on the litter size of sows bred < 7 d postweaning. Sows (77, 59 and 56 in Trials 1, 2 and 3, respectively) assigned to basal (B) or CuP treatments were moved into farrowing crates at d 108 of gestation. The diet fed to each CuP sow was top-dressed daily with 128 mg of CuP during both prefarrowing and lactating periods. Pigs were weaned at 18 d of age. After weaning, sows in Trials 1 and 2 were housed in solid-floor breeding pens with a shallow open gutter, whereas sows in Trial 3 were housed in pens used in our previous study with partially slotted floor. The CuP sow was fed the basal gestation diet supplemented with 23 ppm CuP. Weaned sows were checked for estrus once daily and artificially inseminated (AI) on 2 successive days at the first postweaning estrus. Sows were slaughtered 10 d after the first AI. Combined data of Trials 1 and 2 showed that, for B and CuP groups, percent sows bred < 7 d postweaning were 60 and 55%, percent sows pregnant were 42 and 39%, and live fetuses/sow were 6.9 and 7.4, respectively. No statistical treatment difference (P > .05) was found. A numeric advantage for CuP over B existed in Trial 3 when sows were housed in the same breeding facility as our previous study. For B and CuP groups of Trial 3, sows bred < 7 d postweaning were 73 and 80%, sows pregnant were 46 and 60%, and live fetuses/sow were 8.4 and 9.9 (P =.13), respectively. It is concluded that, with favorable housing, supplemental CuP improves reproductive performance of sows.