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The influence of differentiated extra maternal feed allowance during early gestation on maternal performance and postnatal development of the progeny from gilts and sows was investigated. Four different feed allowances of the same diet (Control [C], +35% [T35], +70% [T70], +100% [T100]) were assigned to 20 crossbred gilts (Swedish Landrace×Swedish Yorkshire), which continued as sows with the same feed allowance the following parity. The progeny was uniformly raised and slaughtered at a live weight of 110 kg. Additional maternal feed allowance resulted in significantly more weaned piglets per sow but not per gilt. Piglet numbers did not increase from T35 to T70/T100. Piglet birth weight did not increase due to maternal feeding. The intra-litter variation in piglet birth weights was similar between the treatments. Independent of the additional feed allowance, all gilts and sows had similar weights after weaning and had good body condition. The growth rate of progeny from sows was negatively related to maternal feed supply; for progeny from gilts, no clear trend of nutritional influence could be observed. Carcass and technological meat quality was not affected by maternal feeding treatment. Birth weight positively affected later growth performance (daily weight gain), carcass quality (lean meat content, back fat, proportion of muscles in ham/loin), whereas technological meat quality was unaffected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to determine the influence of feed intake (FI) and fiber source on the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of gross energy (GE) and nutrients in pigs. Twelve barrows with an initial body weight (BW) of 34.0 ± 2.6 kg were allotted to a replicated 6 × 4 Latin square design with 6 treatments and 4 periods. The 6 treatments were consisted of a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with 2 amounts of FI (9.0 and 4.5% × BW0.75) and 3 dietary fiber sources. Three diets were 1) a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet (BD), 2) a diet replacing 30% of corn and soybean meal in BD with sugar beet pulp (SBP) as a source of soluble dietary fiber (SDF), and 3) a diet replacing 15% of corn and soybean meal in BD with corn cobs as a source of insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) to obtain a similar IDF concentration as in the SBP diet. Following a 6-d adaptation, feces were collected for 5 d. The ATTD of GE, dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in diets was greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed at 4.5% of BW0.75 compared with those fed at 9.0% of BW0.75. The ATTD of GE, DM, OM, NDF, and ADF in SBP diet was greater (P < 0.01) than that in corn cob diet. However, there was no interaction between FI and fiber source on energy and nutrient digestibility. The ATTD of GE, DM, OM, protein, NDF, and ADF in SBP was greater (P < 0.01) than that in corn cobs. In conclusion, energy and nutrient digestibility values were increased by reduced feed intake and were greater in sugar beet pulp than in corn cobs without interaction between feed intake and fiber source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]