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Table 1 Comparison between the productive parameters of the elite modern lactating sow and the reference sow of the past

From: Optimizing dietary lipid use to improve essential fatty acid status and reproductive performance of the modern lactating sow: a review

 

1985a

2012b

Item

Average sow

Average sow

Elite sowc

Total pigs born, n

11.2

13.4

15.1

Pigs weaned,d n

8.6

10.3

11.5

Litter gain,e kg/d

1.60

2.09

2.35

Milk production,f kg/d

6.9

8.2

9.2

Nutrient output,f g/d

   

 Lactose

385

458

512

 Protein

379

450

501

 Fat

526

626

699

  1. aSource: [2, 3]
  2. bSource: [1]
  3. cTop 10 % of farms
  4. dLactation length: average sow 1985 = 25.1, average sow 2013 = 20.5, and elite sow 2013 = 22.3 d
  5. eFor the average sow of 1985, litter gain estimation used information provided by Noblet and Etienne [3]
  6. fMilk production and nutrient output was calculated based on litter weight gain and litter size at weaning using a set of equations derived from Hansen et al. [40]
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Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology

ISSN: 2049-1891