EFFECT OF ENERGY INTAKE, HAYLAGE AND FREE-CHOICE SUPPLEMENT ON THE REPRODUCTIVE
PERFORMANCE OF GILTS
Research Progress Report 36 August 1962, Final Report
R. A. Pickett and W. M. Beeson, Animal Sciences Department
SUMMARY
Gilts fed a reduced level of complete mixed feed gained less and farrowed smaller pigs than gilts gaining slightly over 1 pound per day during gestation.
The gilts on reduced energy intake (Lot 2) weaned an average of 8.2 pigs averaging 34 pounds, while gilts on a higher energy level during gestation weaned 7.8 pigs weighing an average of 32 pounds.
The inclusion of 50 percent of sun-cured alfalfa meal with a 38 percent protein supplement did not control supplement intake to the desired 2 pounds per day when fed free choice to gilts which were hand-fed 3 pounds of corn per day.
Haylage plus corn and supplement appears to have promise as a good gestation ration, but further study is needed to determine the proper use of haylage for gilts.
PROCEDURE
Forty-four Yorkshire-Duroc gilts were allotted to four experimental groups on the basis of weight and litter on October 10, 1961. These gilts were confined to 30 x 80 feet lots which were one-half concrete and one-half soil. A 10 x 12 feet Pur-Dual house was provided in each lot.
All gilts received the same ration until November 10 when the experimental treatments were started. The gilts were bred between October 20 and November 15 to litter mate Hampshire boars. Gilts not
bred by November 15 were removed from the experimental lots and were not included in the experimental data.
Initial experimental treatments were as follows:
Lot 1--5 pounds of mixed ration per
day.
Lot 2--4 pounds of mixed ration per day (reduced energy).
Lot 3--Haylage to appetite plus 1 pound of 38 percent protein supplement and 1 pound of corn daily.
Lot 4--3 pounds corn daily and a pelleted high-fiber supplement free choice.
Ration details are given in Table 1. Haylage fed was from first and second cuttings of a leguminous crop composed primarily of alfalfa, red clover and ladino clover and was stored in an air-tight structure (Harvestore). Moisture content of the haylage was 54.7 percent.
Consumption of the free-choice supplement containing 50 percent sun-cured alfalfa and 50 percent of a 38 percent protein supplement (Lot 4) was excessive (3.7 lb/day) during the first two weeks of the experiment so the supplement was hand-fed at 2 pounds per day for the remainder of the gestation period.
Gilts receiving haylage were doing poorly after the first month of the experiment (daily gain 0.06 lb,) and the amount of corn they received was gradually increased throughout the rest of the experimental period. Feed intake was increased for all gilts for approximately the last month of gestation.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY • Agricultural Experiment Station • Lafayette, Indiana