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Effects of sow nutrition during gestation on within-litter birth weight variation: a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 November 2011

P. H. R. F. Campos ,
B. A. N. Silva ,
J. L. Donzele ,
R. F. M. Oliveira  and
E. F. Knol
P. H. R. F. Campos
Affiliation:
Institute for Pig Genetics BV, Schoenaker 6, 6640 AA Beuningen, The Netherlands Animal Science Department/Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36571-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
B. A. N. Silva*
Affiliation:
Institute for Pig Genetics BV, Schoenaker 6, 6640 AA Beuningen, The Netherlands
J. L. Donzele
Affiliation:
Animal Science Department/Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36571-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
R. F. M. Oliveira
Affiliation:
Animal Science Department/Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36571-000 Viçosa, MG, Brazil
E. F. Knol
Affiliation:
Institute for Pig Genetics BV, Schoenaker 6, 6640 AA Beuningen, The Netherlands
*
†E-mail: Bruno.Nunes.Silva@ipg.nl
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Abstract

The increasing demand for efficiency in pork production requires great specialization of all sectors involved in this activity. In this context, the development of strategies that could reduce undesirable traits related with negative effects on piglet survival and postnatal growth and development are essential for the pig industry. Currently, special attention is given to variation in birth weight, as some evidences suggest an increased within-litter birth weight variation in modern sows. This variation has been shown to be associated with preweaning mortality, variable weights at weaning and deteriorated growth performance, which results in economic losses and lower efficiency. Therefore, understanding the factors that can influence the events that occur during gestation and that have an impact on the fetal growth and development are important to achieve better efficiency and also to develop strategies that can be used to achieve increased within-litter uniformity of piglet birth weight. This study concludes that even at a given placental size, fetal growth may vary because of differences in placental vascularization and efficiency. Feeding extra feed or energy during late gestation only marginally improves birth weight, and positive effects are not consistent between different studies. The detrimental effects of protein restriction on fetal growth during early gestation may be due to altered placental and endometrial angiogenesis and growth, which leads to a reduction in placental-fetal blood flow, nutrient supply from mother to the fetuses and ultimately to fetal growth retardation. The number of studies that attempted to influence within-litter birth weight variation by means of sow nutrition during gestation is limited. Therefore, more research concerning sow nutrition during gestation associated with the provision of balanced diets to meet requirements of the sows and fetuses are still required. This knowledge may subsequently provide starting points for the design of nutritional strategies that can influence within-litter birth variation.

Keywords

gestationsow nutritionwithin-litter variationamino acids
Type
Review
Information
animal , Volume 6 , Special Issue 5: Symposium “Sustainable animal production in the tropics” (SAPT), Guadeloupe, France, November 15–18, 2010 , May 2012 , pp. 797 - 806
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2012

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