Performance of lactating sows according to parturition order

• Main Authors: Amélia Maria Lima Garcia, Charles Kiefer, Karina Márcia Ribeiro de Souza, Gabriel Cipriano Rocha, Camilla Mendonça Silva, Stephan Alexander da Silva Alencar, Gabriela Puhl Rodrigues
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto de Zootecnia 2016-03-01
• Series: Boletim de Indústria Animal
• Subjects: descarte de fêmeas suínas; desmame; diarreia; leitegada.
• Online Access: http://revistas.bvs-vet.org.br/bia/article/view/30323

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of parturition order on the productive performance of lactating sows. In a completely randomized design, 200 lactating cows were allocated to four treatments: 1st and 2nd, 3rd to 5th, 6th and 7th and 8th to 11th parturition order, with 40, 81, 32 and 47 repetitions, respectively. The parturition order did not influence (P>0.05) the number of weaned piglets, weight of piglets and litter at weaning, weight gain of piglets and litter, or mortality. A higher (P<0.05) total and percent occurrence of diarrhea was observed in piglets of third to fifth parturition sows. The worst fecal score was found in piglets born to first and second parturition sows. The parturition order also influenced (P<0.05) the mean daily incidence of diarrhea in piglets, with a higher incidence in piglets of first and second parturition sows. In conclusion, parturition order did not influence the productive performance of lactating sows, although piglets born to first and second parturition sows exhibited a higher daily incidence of diarrhea and more severe symptoms.