Ruminant Nutrition III

This study was conducted to determine the effect of including mannan oligosaccharides (MOS, Bio-Mos r ) in diets fed to gestating and lactating sows on their productivity. A total of 80 gestating sows (Landrace × Large White), selected two weeks before the expected farrowing, were randomly allotted to one of two treatment groups taking into account their parity number. The two treatments were as follows: 1) basal diet (control), 2) basal diet with a source of MOS at 2 g/kg in gestation and 1 g/kg in lactating diets. Diets were formulated to contain 18.5% CP and 2.4 Mcal NE/kg. During lactation, all sows were allowed ad libitum access to their treatment diets. Feeding the experimental diets began two weeks before farrowing and continued until weaning of piglets. Sow BW was measured at 107 d of gestation and at weaning. Backfat depth was measured using ultra sound 24 h and 14 d after farrowing, and at weaning. ADFI was recorded daily. Pigs were weighed 24 h after birth and at weaning. Number of piglets born alive, pre-wean mortality and ADG were recorded. Sow weight change, backfat depth change, and ADFI did not differ between treatments (P>0.05). Also, the number of pigs born (11.2 vs 11.9) and pre-wean mortality (1.00 vs 0.88) did not differ between control and MOS supplemented sows (P>0.05). However, piglet birth (1.54 vs 1.70 kg) and weaning weights (6.52 vs 7.12 kg) were 0.16 and 0.60 kg heavier, respectively (P<0.05) for MOS supplemented sows when compared to control sows. These data suggest that MOS supplementation of sow diets during the end of gestation and lactation increases both piglet birth and weaning weights.