150 Impact of Prefarrow Feeding Strategy on Farrowing Duration and Piglet Survival Free

The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of prefarrow feeding strategies on sow farrowing duration and percentage of stillborn piglets. Sows (n = 215) were farrowed at a commercial sow farm in eastern North Carolina. Genetics of the sows were PIC. Farrowing rooms were curtain sided with natural ventilation. Sows were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 prefarrow feeding strategies. Upon entering a farrowing stall, sows were fed either 2.27kg in the morning (Control), 1.14kg in the morning and 1.14kg in the evening (TWICE) or 2.27kg in the morning top dressed with 50g of TransRite Sow Ultra (CaCl). Sows started dietary treatments and farrowed, on average, d 112.6 and d 115.6 of gestation, respectively. Data were analyzed in SAS using PROC GLM. Statistical models contained prefarrow feeding strategy and parity as fixed effects and total number born was included as a covariate. Average total number born, number born alive and stillborns were 15.42, 14.16 and 1.26 piglets, respectively. Farrowing duration differed (P < .01) between treatments. Both TWICE and CaCl had shorter (P < .05) farrowing duration than Control sows (4:51 and 5:26 vs. 6:49, respectively). First parity sows had shorter (P < 0.05) farrowing duration than multiparous sows (4:23 vs. 6:08). Sows fed CaCl had a lower (P < 0.05) percentage of stillborns when compared with Control sows (6.1 vs. 9.2%) while TWICE did not differ (P > 0.05) from CaCl or Control (7.3% stillborns). An increase of 1 piglet in total number born increased (P < 0.05) percent stillborns by .24%. Results suggest either TWICE or CaCl could be used to reduce farrowing duration, perhaps reducing the need for farrowing assistance and allowing for improved farm labor efficiency. Funding for this project was provided by the Swine Research and Education Experience through the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence.