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Title: EFFICACY OF RESTRICTED/AD LIBITUM FEEDING STRATEGY FOR GROUP-FED GILTS DURING DEVELOPMENT

Author
item Klindt, John
item Yen, Jong Tseng
item Christenson, Ronald

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/6/2002
Publication Date: 3/1/2003
Citation: KLINDT, J.M., YEN, J., CHRISTENSON, R.K. EFFICACY OF RESTRICTED/AD LIBITUM FEEDING STRATEGY FOR GROUP-FED GILTS DURING DEVELOPMENT. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE. 2003. v. 81(Suppl.2):Abstract p. 58.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Our previous studies, with gilts individually penned and feed restricted during a 12-wk growth period prior to entering a breeding facility with ad libitum access to feed, showed that days to first estrus was least in gilts subjected to the most severe restriction during the development period. Herein, 180 gilts, 122 d of age and 75.6 kg BW, were assigned to 18 pens with 10 gilts/pen. Gilts were pen-fed to achieve 50%, 68%, and 88% of calculated ad libitum intake (treatment, trt). Diets were formulated to restrict only energy. At 221 d of age, gilts were moved to the breeding barn, repenned within trt, given ad libitum access to a common diet, and checked for estrus daily using mature boars. From 245 to 266 d of age, gilts were inseminated (AI) on 1st and 2nd d of estrus. During development period, 122 to 221 d of age, feed consumption was 1512, 2006, and 2647 kg/pen in the 50%, 68%, and 88% groups (P < 0.01), respectively. Trts influenced (P < 0.01) ADG and BW at 221 d of age; 0.330, 106.4; 0.506, 126.5; and 0.657 kg/d, 138.8 kg for 50%, 68%, and 88% trts, respectively. Within pen, SDs for ADG were not influenced by trt (P > 0.15). During breeding period, prior energy restriction induced compensatory feed consumption (P < 0.09): 1489, 1348, and 1198 kg/pen for 50%, 68%, and 88% trts, respectively. Total feed fed from 121 to 266 d of age was 3001, 3354, and 3854 kg/pen for 50%, 68%, and 88% trts (P < 0.01), respectively. Trts affected (P < 0.01) BWs after AI or at 266 d of age; 134.6, 151.0, and 157.9 kg for 50%, 68%, and 88% trts, respectively. Treatments did not affect (P > 0.38) percentages acyclic, cyclic, and pregnant at 46 d after breeding: 10.0, 88.3, 76.7; 15.0, 80.0, 71.7; and 18.3, 78.3, 70.0; for 50%, 68%, and 88% trts, respectively. Subjecting gilts to dietary energy restriction from 122 d of age until three wk before the start of mating, followed by ad libitum feed during breeding period, reduced total feed consumed and had no measurable impact on reproductive performance through 46 d after end of breeding.