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Effects of a mineral-salt laxative in lactation diets for primiparous sows and their litters |
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I. H. Kim, J. D. Hancock, C. S. Kim |
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| Abstract |
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Twenty-three crossbred (Yorkshire횞Duroc횞Hampshire횞Chester White) primiparous sows were used to evaluate the effects of the mineral-salt laxative in lactation diets on sow and litter performance. The sows were fed a sorghum-extruded soybean-based diet with .85% lysine, .90% Ca, .80% P, and 3.2 Mcal ME/kg. Sow body weight (p > .54) and backfat loss (p > .61), average daily feed intake (p > .42), and litter weight gain (p > .74) were not affected by the mineral-salt laxative in the diet. However, survivability of piglets was greater (p < .06) for sows with the mineral-salt laxative in their diet and, thus, number of pigs weaned was increased. As expected, fecal moisture was increased (p < .09) in sows fed the mineral-salt laxative. Apparent digestibilities of DM, N, and GE were not affected by treatment (p < .26). After weaning, stomachs were collected and scored for ulcers and keratinization using a scoring system of 0 = normal to 3 = severe. Severity of ulceration and keratinization was not significantly affected by treatment (row mean scores differ test p > .25), but scores for sows fed the diet containing the mineral-salt laxative were numerically lower than sows fed the control diet. Thus, our data indicated that sows fed the mineral-salt laxative during lactation gad improved piglet survivability, greater fecal moistur, and tended to have fewer lesions in the mucosa of the stomach. |
| Keywords:
Sows; Sorghum; Mineral-Salt; Laxative; Ulcer |
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