Effect of feed and(or) water deprivation prior to weaning on reproductive performance of sows: a cooperative study.

A total of 292 sows, at three experimental stations (Auburn, Texas A&M, Texas Tech), was used to determine the effects of depriving sows of feed and(or) water before weaning on reproductive performance. The four treatments were arranged as a 2 X 2 factorial to evaluate two periods of feed deprivation (0 and 48 h) and two periods of water deprivation (0 and 24 h) before weaning. Sows were allowed to consume feed ad libitum during lactation, and were fed 1.8 kg/d during the weaning to breeding interval. Only sows nursing six or more pigs at weaning were used. Pigs were weaned at approximately 42 d at Auburn and 28 d at Texas A&M and Texas Tech. Treatment responses were similar at each station with no evidence of a station X treatment interaction for any of the traits (P greater than .10). During the 48-h treatment period, sows receiving feed and water ad libitum lost 1 kg compared with weight losses of 16 kg for sows deprived of feed for 48 h, 13 kg for sows deprived of water for 24 h, and 17 kg for sows deprived of feed for 48 h and water for 24 h. Weight losses for sows deprived of water only, may have partially resulted from reduced feed intake during the 24-h treatment period; however, feed intake during this period was not measured. At breeding, sows deprived of feed and(or) water maintained their greater weight losses, suggesting that some tissue loss occurred during the 48- or 24-h treatment periods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)