The partition of nutrients during lactation, In particular the extent to which body reserves are utilised to support milk production, is important in determining the reproductive performance of sows. For example, if the mobilisation of body reserves by young sows during lactation is excessive then the Interval between weaning and re-mating may be extended. The aim of this present experiment was to manipulate the use of body reserves by sows during their first lactation by altering both feed Intake and suckling intensity (litter size) in an attempt to investigate how the dynamics of nutrient metabolism during lactation may influence reproductive function.

In a 2 X 2 factorial experiment, 28 Landrace x Large White gilts were fed a diet containing 12.5 MJ DE and 156 g CP per kg either to appetite (H) or 3.0 kg/day (L) with litter size adjusted to either 6 (6) or 12 (12) piglets at each feeding level for a 21-day lactation..