Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T02:18:43.294Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Supplementation of midgestation swine grazing alfalfa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

M. S. Honeyman  and
W. B. Roush
M. S. Honeyman*
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Department of Animal Science, Bl Curtiss Hall, Iowa State Univesity, Ames, IA 50011;
W. B. Roush
Affiliation:
Agricultural Specialist, Western Research and Demonstration Farm, 36515 Hwy. E34, Castana, IA.
*
Corresponding author is M.S. Honeyman ([email protected]).
Get access

Abstract

For four years (1991–1994), gestating gilts rotationally grazing alfalfa were compared to gilts in a dry lot fed 1,800 g/d of a corn-soy diet (control). The dietary supplementation treatments for the grazing gilts were 1,260 g, 720 g, and 180 g of ground corn (70, 40, and 10% of the gilts' energy needs) plus 45 g of monosodium phosphate and 9 g of salt (sodium chloride) per day. All gilts were fed individually. In 1991 and 1992, the gilts were fed daily. In 1993 and 1994, the gilts were fed their weekly feed ration in three equal feedings on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Alfalfa paddocks were grazed for one week with a stocking rate of 62 gilts/ha/wk. All gilts had rings in their noses to minimize rooting. For the 42-d mid-gestation trial, the weight gain of the control gilts did not differ from the gain of the grazing gilts daily fed 720 g corn (40%) (P<.05). The interval feeding reduced gains compared to the daily feeding. Gilts daily fed 1,260 g corn/d (70%) gained more than the other grazing treatments (P<.05). The gilts daily fed 180 g corn/d (10%) gained less than all other treatments (P<.05) and had the greatest backfat loss (P<.05) for the 42-d trial. No major trends were noted in number of pigs born per litter or pig birth weight. After one week of grazing, alfalfa height decreased 14.7 cm and DM content of the remaining alfalfa increased 9%. Each grazing season, the alfalfa stand decreased 3.8 plants/m2. Daily alfalfa intakes per gilt were calculated at 11.5 kg (3.2 kg DM) for 1991 and 1992, and increased to 16.3 kg (4.2 kg DM) for 1993 and 1994. These are composite intakes because all grazing gilts were commingled. Mid-gestation gilts rotationally grazing alfalfa need 720 g of corn per day plus phosphorus and salt to match weight gains of gestating gilts in a drylot fed 1,800 g/d of a corn-soy diet. Daily feeding, rather than interval feeding, resulted in greater weight gains and lower alfalfa intakes. The practice of grazing gestating sows has the advantages of no manure to haul, reduced purchased feed inputs, and inclusion of a soil-building crop like alfalfa in the crop rotation.

Keywords

gestating swinealfalfa supplementationrotational grazinggrazing sows/gilts
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , September 1999 , pp. 103 - 108
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Allee, G.L. 1976. Evaluation of a selffed sow gestation diet. J. Animal Sci. 42:1348 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
2.Becker, D.E., Jensen, A.H., Harmon, B.G., and Gesell, J.A.. 1964. A new method of limiting feed intake of gestating gilts. Illinois Ext. Serv. Agr. Home Econ. Pub. AS-602b.Google Scholar
3.Calvert, C.C., Steele, N.C., and Rosebrough, R.W.. 1985. Digestibility of fber components and reproductive performance of sows fed high levels of alfalfa meal. J. Animal Sci. 61:595–602.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Carroll, W.E. 1936. Possibilities of increasing the use of forage and roughage in swine production. Amer. Soc. Animal Production. Champaign, IL. p. 26.Google Scholar
5.Cuaron, J.A., Robles, A., and Shimada, A.S.. 1979. Use of dehydrated lucerne (Medicago sativa) in the nutrition of pregnant sows. Tecnica Pecuaria Mexico 37:7–13.Google Scholar
6.Danielson, D.M. 1967. Alfalfa hay in swine gestation diets. J. Animal Sci. 26:906 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
7.Danielson, D.M., and Noonan, J.J.. 1975. Roughage in swine gestation diets. J. Animal Sci. 41:94–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Hagen, C.D., Moser, R.L., Cornelius, S.G., and Pettigrew, J.E.. 1987. Alfalfa haylage for gestating swine. J. Animal Sci. 65 (Suppl. 1):138 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
9.Mahan, D.C., and Murray, F.A.. 1977. Feeding pregnant sows and gilts twice weekly. Ohio Agric. Research Development Center Report 62:19–23.Google Scholar
10.McCarty, J.W., and Seerley, R.W.. 1967. Reproductive performance of gilts and sows fed daily, twice weekly or weekly during gestation. South Dakota Agric. Exp. Sta. Pub. 67–36: 34–39.Google Scholar
11.Michel, E.J., Easter, R.A., Norton, H.W., and Rundquist, J.K.. 1980. Effect of feeding frequency during gestation on reproductive performance of gilts and sows. J. Animal Sci. 50:93–98.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.NRC. 1988. Nutrient Requirements of Swine (9th ed.). Board on Agriculture, National Research Council. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
13.Parker, J.W., and Clawson, A.J.. 1967. Influence of level of total feed intake on digestibility, rate of passage and energetic efficiency of reproduction in swine. J. Animal Sci. 26:485–489.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Pollman, D.S., Danielson, D.M., Crenshaw, M.A., and Peo, E.R. Jr., 1981. Long-term effects of dietary additions of alfalfa and tallow on sow reproductive performance. J. Animal Sci. 51:294–299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Pond, W.G. 1981. Limitations and opportunities in the use of fibrous and by-product feeds for swine. In: Proc. Distillers Feed Conference 36 (April 2): Cincinnati, OH.Google Scholar
16.SAS. 1992. SAS User's Guide. SAS Inst., Cary, NC.Google Scholar
17.Wiesemuller, W. 1982. Lucerne silage as a source of amino acids in sow nutrition. Pig News and Information 3(2): 149–156.Google Scholar