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Increasing voluntary feed intake of the sow is a major challenge for nutritionists in tropical climate conditions. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of the dietary supplementation of a feed flavour for sows during lactation on their feeding behavior and kinetics of daily feed intake under tropical conditions. A total of 60 high-prolific mixed parity sows divided into 10 batches of 6 sows each were used, distributed in a completely randomized experimental design among 2 dietary treatments (0 or 500 g/ton of Krave®, Adisseo). The average meal size was 107 g/meal lower in sows fed the control diet when compared with flavour fed sows. Daily feed intake was greater in the flavored diet than in the control (6,417 vs. 5,362 g/d; P < 0.05). The flavor improved ingestion time (58.4 vs. 46.6 min/d, respectively flavour and control; P < 0.05). Sows receiving flavor showed a higher nocturnal (704 vs. 583 g/meal) and diurnal (678 vs. 582 g/meal) feed intake. Sows also showed a higher voluntary intake between 00:00 and 10:00 am, which was equivalent to 83% of the total daily feed intake. From a comparison of hourly feed intakes or variations from hour to hour (during 24 h), the nycthemeral pattern of feed intake peaked twice daily for both dietary treatments. However, the size of the peak was greater (P < 0.05) for flavour fed sows when compared with the control at 0400 and 1900 h (Figure 1a). Diets also influenced on kinetics of daily feed intake during the lactation period. Feed intake was higher for the flavour fed sows from d 3 to 8 and from d 10 to 24 (Figure 1b; P < 0.05). In conclusion, the strategic use of a feed flavour to manipulate the sensorial properties of feed is a viable strategy to increase the sows' voluntary feed intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress can cause changes in the feeding behaviour of lactating sows. The present study aimed to evaluate the impacts of season on the feeding behavior and kinetics of daily feed intake of modern high prolific sows under tropical conditions. A total of 80 high-prolific mixed parity sows divided into 10 batches of 8 sows each were used. Individual feeding behaviour was recorded during the ad libitum period (between d 1 and 23 of lactation), using an Automated Intelligent Feeder (AIF; Gestal Solo, Jyga Technology, Canada). Daily feed intake during lactation was affected by season (P < 0.001), and the feed intake was less during the hot season (5.66 vs. 7.23 g/d; Figure 1a). The daily ingestion time was less in the hot season (36.8 vs. 72.3 min/d; P< 0.01) and the ingestion time per meal was also lower in the hot compared to the cool season (5.7 vs. 7.5 min/meal; P < 0.05). The hot season showed a lower (P < 0.01) rate of daily intake when compared to the cool season (36.8 vs. 72.3 g/min). Sows showed a higher diurnal feed intake (3,546 vs. 2,901 g/d), whereas meal frequency was not affected (4.2 meals/d, on average). Irrespective of the season, the nycthemeral pattern of feed intake peaked twice daily: between 0200 and 0900 h and between 1600 and 2000 h (Figure 1b). The present study confirms that lactating sows do not change much their feeding pattern according to season, meaning that they tend to keep the same feeding behaviour during both seasons, with a more pronounced intake between 0200 and 0900 am, approximately 80% of their total daily intake. Sows may not change feeding pattern according to season, but reduce significantly voluntary feed intake under hot climate conditions in order to reduce the thermal effect of feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]