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The effect of pregnancy, energy intake and mating weight on protein deposition and energy retention of female pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

F. D. Deb Hovell
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
R. M. MacPherson
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
R. M. J. Crofts
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
R. I. Smart
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
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Summary

1. In a comparative slaughter experiment, 12 female pigs (six at 80 kg and six at 100 kg) were allocated at first oestrus to each of five treatments: Treatment 1 initial slaughter, or Treatments 2, 3 and 4 mated and given 19·5, 25·8 or 32·1 MJ ME/day for the last 100 days of pregnancy, or Treatment 5 not mated (virgin) and given 25·8 MJ ME/day over a similar period. Pigs on Treatments 2, 3, 4 and 5 were given the same amount of protein and were killed about 123 days after first oestrus. Piglets were removed at birth.

2. Total protein deposition (carcass+viscera+piglets) was increased from a total (±SE) of 5·50 to 8·47 (±0·43) kg as ME intake was increased from 19·5 to 32·1 MJ ME/day. About 75% of the increase in protein deposition was in the carcass component. The average response to ME was 2·2 ± 0·58 g total protein deposition per MJ increment in ME.

3. The once-mated pigs deposited similar amounts of total protein to the virgin pigs but significantly less (P<0·05) carcass protein, when this was corrected to the same amount of carcass fat deposition.

4. Increasing energy intake from 19·5 to 32·1 MJ ME/day increased total fat deposition from 2·8 to 16·0 kg. The average response to ME was 13·5 ± 1·53 g fat deposited per MJ increment in ME.

5. There were no significant differences between the once-mated and virgin pigs in their calculated maintenance requirement, nor in the efficiency with which ME surplus to requirement for maintenance was utilized for energy retention. The average maintenance requirement for all pigs was 530 (95% limits 303·882) kJ/kg0·85. day. The average efficiency of utilization of ME for energy retention was 58·5 ± 6·2%.

6. There was no evidence of any pregnancy anabolism other than that involving the conceptus, the needs of the dam specific to pregnancy and preparation for lactation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1977

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References

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