THE GESTATING AND LACTATING SOW edited by: Chantal Farmer The gestating and lactating sow The gestating and lactating sow edited by: Chantal Farmer Wageningen Academic  P u b l i s h e r s Buy a print copy of this book at: www.WageningenAcademic.com/SowLactation This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned. Nothing from this publication may be translated, EAN: 9789086862535 reproduced, stored in a computerised e-EAN: 9789086868032 system or published in any form or in any ISBN: 978-90-8686-253-5 manner, including electronic, mechanical, e-ISBN: 978-90-8686-803-2 reprographic or photographic, without DOI: 10.3920/978-90-8686-803-2 prior written permission from the publisher, Wageningen Academic Publishers, Photo cover: Joël Boudreau P.O. Box 220, NL-6700 AE Wageningen, The Netherlands. First published, 2015 www.WageningenAcademic.com [email protected] © Wageningen Academic Publishers The individual contributions in this The Netherlands, 2015 publication and any liabilities arising from them remain the responsibility of the © Chapter 4 and 14: Her Majesty authors. the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of The publisher is not responsible for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada possible damages, which could be a result 2015 of content derived from this publication. To the men of my life ... – to my dad, Jacques, for his wonderful and unrelenting support throughout my years as a graduate student. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am now. – to my dear husband Roger, for encouraging me and sharing his enthusiasm for this project every step of the way. Without him, I may never have started this book. – to my son Vincent, for believing in his mother’s dream and for representing the continuity in all things just as this book will allow dissemination of information on sow lactation for generations to come. I love you and I thank you ... Table of contents 1. Conditioning of the gilt for optimal reproductive performance 13 D.W. Rozeboom 1.1 Introduction 13 1.2 Gilt body condition and estrous activity prior to first service 15 1.3 Gilt body condition and reproductive performance after first service 16 1.4 Conclusions 21 References 23 2. Early gestation feeding and management for optimal reproductive performance 27 P. Langendijk 2.1 Introduction 27 2.2 Early gestation issues: establishment of pregnancy and embryo mortality 28 2.3 Effects of premating nutrition on luteal function during early pregnancy 30 2.4 Post-mating nutrition, embryo loss and maintenance of pregnancy 31 2.5 Hormonal interventions to support the maintenance of pregnancy 39 2.6 Conclusions 39 References 40 3. Gestation group housing of sows 47 H.A.M. Spoolder and H.M. Vermeer 3.1 Introduction 48 3.2 Sow social behaviour in group-housing systems 49 3.3 Types of group housing systems 59 3.4 Conclusions 65 References 66 4. Mammary development 73 C. Farmer and W.L. Hurley 4.1 Introduction 73 4.2 Ontogeny of mammary development 74 4.3 Control of mammogenesis 77 4.4 Role of milk removal 80 4.5 Nutritional impact on mammary development 82 4.6 Mammary involution 84 4.7 Management strategies that can affect mammary development 87 4.8 Conclusions 87 References 89 The gestating and lactating sow 7 Table of contents 5. High-Fibre feeding in gestation 95 M.C. Meunier-Salaün and J.E. Bolhuis 5.1 Introduction 95 5.2 Dietary fibres: definition, sources and characteristics 96 5.3 Dietary fibres and satiety process: metabolism and physiological effects 97 5.4 Impact of dietary fibres on behavioural activity 100 5.5 Impact of dietary fibres on performance 105 5.6 Conclusions 109 Acknowledgements 110 References 110 6. Applied amino acid and energy feeding of sows 117 N.L. Trottier, L.J. Johnston and C.F.M. de Lange 6.1 Introduction 118 6.2 Overarching principles 118 6.3 Energy feeding 119 6.4 Amino acid feeding 127 6.5 Feeding management 137 6.6 Conclusions 140 References 140 7. Transition feeding of sows 147 P.K. Theil 7.1 Introduction 147 7.2 The importance of the transition period 148 7.3 Feeding practice of modern hyperprolific sows during the transition period 158 7.4 Recent advances 162 7.5 Future perspectives 167 References 167 8. Colostrum and milk production 173 H. Quesnel, C. Farmer and P.K. Theil 8.1 Introduction 173 8.2 Definitions of colostrum, transient milk and mature milk 174 8.3 Colostrum production 174 8.4 Milk production 179 8.5 Conclusions 185 References 186 8 The gestating and lactating sow Table of contents 9. Composition of sow colostrum and milk 193 W.L. Hurley 9.1 Introduction 193 9.2 Methodology 194 9.3 Physico-chemical properties 197 9.4 Water and total solids 197 9.5 Carbohydrates 200 9.6 Lipids 202 9.7 Proteins 205 9.8 Energy 208 9.9 Minerals 209 9.10 Vitamins 211 9.11 Cells 213 9.12 Bioactive components 215 9.13 Effects of physiological state 217 9.14 Conclusions 218 References 218 10. Housing, management and environment during farrowing and early lactation 231 O.A.T. Peltoniemi and C. Oliviero 10.1 Introduction 231 10.2 Physiology of farrowing 232 10.3 Behaviour and activity 233 10.4 Successful farrowing 234 10.5 Farrowing environment 234 10.6 Duration of farrowing and influence on sow fertility 236 10.7 Effect of environment in early lactation 238 10.8 Body condition, fat metabolism and gut function at farrowing 239 10.9 Technology to predict and supervise farrowings 245 10.10 Conclusions 247 References 247 11. Piglet mortality: causes and prevention 253 S.A. Edwards and E.M. Baxter 11.1 Introduction 253 11.2 Causes of mortality 254 11.3 Prevention of mortality 264 11.4 Conclusions 268 References 269 The gestating and lactating sow 9