1. Wessex Saddleback sows were fed 4 lb. or 2 lb. of a balanced meal per head per day during the first 13 weeks after mating with a Large White boar. All sows received 6 lb. of meal for the last 3 weeks of pregnancy, and approximately 14 lb. (4 lb. plus 1 lb. for each piglet) during lactation. From mating to weaning half the sows on each feeding treatment had access to small soil pens, and the other half to range grazing of lucerne or grass/clover swards.

2. During the first 3 months of gestation sows on soil receiving 2 lb. of meal gained 20 lb. while those on grazing gained 40 lb., equal to the gain of sows fed 4 lb. of meal.

3. Approximately 10·5 piglets were born per sow under all treatments. Piglet mortality was highest with sows which had been fed 4 lb. of meal during pregnancy and were confined in small soil pens, because this treatment produced the greatest number of over-fat sows. Mean piglet weight at 3 weeks (≏ 12 lb.) and 8 weeks (≏ 39 lb.) and total creep-fed meal consumption per piglet (≏ 30 lb.) were similar for all treatments.

4. In a preliminary trial 3½ lb. of dried grass plus ½ lb. of meal per head per day was fed to gilts during the second and third months of pregnancy without adversely affecting farrowing results.

5. From these experiments and the published work it is suggested:—

(a) Pasture alone would probably have been sufficient during the second and third months of pregnancy of the sows used in these trials.

(b) Feeding standards for pregnant sows of 250-350 lb. live-weight may be too generous, and produce ‘fat not fit’ sows at farrowing.

(c) In practice the reduction of meal feeding and the greater dependence on grazing should be applied individually to each sow according to her condition and response.