RT Journal Article
T1 Precision Feeding in Lactating Sows Improves Growth Performance and Carcass Quality of Their Progeny
A1 Aparicio Arnay, María
A1 Yeste Vizcaíno, Natalia
A1 Soria, Nerea
A1 Cambra, Jorge
A1 Isabel Redondo, Beatriz
A1 Piñeiro, Carlos
A1 González Bulnes, Antonio
AB The use of electronic sow feeders (ESFs) during lactation has been associated with weaning of heavier piglets when compared to traditional feeders, with a lower amount of sow feed per kg of weaned piglet, improved welfare of the sow, and no negative effects on body condition or metabolic traits at weaning or subsequent reproductive yields. However, there have been no studies assessing the possible effects of ESF use on the lifelong development of the progeny. This study reveals that piglets weaned from sows fed with ESFs were heavier than those from sows fed with traditional feeders (5.91 ± 1.45 vs. 5.58 ± 1.23 kg, p < 0.005), with a lower amount of feed per kg of weaned piglet (2.41 ± 0.42 vs. 1.88 ± 0.28 kg, p < 0.0005). Subsequent differences in body weight increased due to a higher average daily weight gain during both the periods of nursery (0.332 ± 0.92 vs. 0.312 ± 0.80 kg/day, p < 0.01) and growing–finishing (0.921 ± 0.11 vs. 0.871 ± 0.09 kg/day, p < 0.001). Finally, the weights of the carcasses and primal pork pieces (ham, shoulder, loin, and belly) were also higher in pigs from sows fed with ESFs (p < 0.001 for all).
PB MDPI
YR 2025
FD 2025-04-18
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/120416
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/120416
LA eng
NO Aparicio-Arnay, M., Yeste-Vizcaíno, N., Soria, N., Cambra, J., Isabel, B., Piñeiro, C., & Gonzalez-Bulnes, A. (2025). Precision Feeding in Lactating Sows Improves Growth Performance and Carcass Quality of Their Progeny. Agriculture, 15(8), 887. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15080887
NO Author Contributions:Conceptualization: M.A.-A., N.Y.-V., C.P., B.I. and A.G.-B.; methodology, M.A.-A., N.Y.-V., N.S., J.C. and A.G.-B.; formal analysis, M.A.-A., N.Y.-V. and A.G.-B.; investigation, M.A.-A., N.Y.-V., N.S., J.C., C.P., B.I. and A.G.-B.; writing—original draft preparation, M.A.-A. and A.G.-B.; writing—review and editing, N.Y.-V., N.S., J.C., C.P. and B.I. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
NO European Commission
DS Docta Complutense
RD 15 jun 2025