Factors affecting feed intake during lactation for primiparous sows

摘要

It is generally accepted that high feed intake of lactating sows is desirable as it reduces excessive sow body weight loss during lactation and improves piglet weaning weights (Eissen etal., 1999). However, there is relatively little detailed information about factors that affect feed intake during lactation, including whether individual sow appetite is a limiting factor. This paper investigates whether knowledge of traits recorded on gilts at selection or farrowing can be used as predictors of theirfeed intake during lactation when feed delivery is 'to appetite'.