Dietary protein digestion kinetics in lactating sows: Lactation performance and subsequent reproduction

Summary

In modern lean sows, body protein reserves are mobilized to produce milk, which can adversely affect both sow and litter performance. Improving dietary protein utilization efficiency is therefore critical. The current study shows that a slower dietary protein digestion rate, expressed as a high percentage of slow protein, improved litter weight gain and (or) reduced sow body protein loss. Reducing total dietary crude protein elevates protein efficiency and will not compromise sow lactation performance when including a high percentage of slow protein in diet. Besides, we found that sow body condition loss can reduce plasma progesterone concentration and impair conceptus development at Day 8 post-ovulation, which may consequently affect next litter. Our findings highlighted beneficial effects of a slower protein digestion on sow lactation performance, and importance of maintaining a proper sow body condition during lactation for reproductive performance.