March 27, 2007

Dutch research shows gestation feed reduces mortality rate in piglets
 

The mortality rate in piglets could significantly decrease by adapting the gestating sow's diet, according to a recent Dutch study.

Research by Schothorst Feed Research in Lelystad, the Netherlands, showed that feeding a high fat diet to sows during the first half of the gestation period and a diet high in starch and fat in the second half is beneficial to the number of surviving piglets.

The study also presented that diet influences the mortality rate among newborn piglets, especially in litters over 12 piglets born alive.

By feeding the gestation sows a different diet in the last period compared to the one in the first period of gestation, the sows showed a more efficient glucose metabolism and showed a faster reduction of the blood levels of glucose, which subsequently increases the piglet survival.

The results in the study is an encouraging news, according to researchers, as the litters in modern pig farming are getting bigger and the diet can prevent death of newly-born piglets.