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Table 6 Exploratory analysis of dietary betaine on subsequent reproductive performance during summer months (Exp. 1)c

From: Sow performance in response to natural betaine fed during lactation and post-weaning during summer and non-summer months

Item

Betaine in lactation diets, %

SEM

P-valuesd

0

0

0.2

0.2

Betaine lactation

Betaine post-weaning

Interaction

Betaine in post-weaning diets, %

0

0.2

0

0.2

Parity 1, n

39

44

44

42

    

 Days to estrus

5.78

6.82

7.80

5.19

0.960

0.843

0.415

0.061

 Farrowed:weanede

0.923

0.841

0.818

0.833

0.054

0.327

0.555

0.328

 Total pigs born

12.32a,b

13.82a

13.40a,b

12.18b

0.598

0.638

0.821

0.025

 Pigs born alive

11.61b

13.33a

12.93a,b

11.38b

0.598

0.599

0.888

0.007

Parity 2 and 3, n

71

71

71

72

    

 Days to estrus

7.21

5.69

7.16

6.66

0.815

0.569

0.216

0.526

 Farrowed:weanede

0.929

0.915

0.915

0.847

0.035

0.245

0.245

0.444

 Total pigs born

13.42

13.20

13.41

13.01

0.541

0.848

0.550

0.864

 Pigs born alive

12.58

12.56

12.85

12.25

0.515

0.969

0.521

0.540

Parity 4, 5 and 6, n

51

48

48

48

    

 Days to estrus

5.28

5.56

6.25

4.51

0.685

0.957

0.242

0.107

 Farrowed:weanede

0.961

0.854

0.916

0.896

0.041

0.977

0.127

0.303

 Total pigs born

14.15

12.90

15.37

14.02

0.585

0.026

0.014

0.927

 Pigs born alive

13.07

12.06

13.59

12.88

0.552

0.178

0.084

0.768

  1. a,bMeans with different superscripts differ (P ≤ 0.05)
  2. cValues represent least squares means of n sows
  3. dThe statistical analysis tested for main effects of betaine supplementation during lactation and/or post-weaning, and their interaction. The group of placement (1 to 30) was used as the random effect in the analysis of total pigs born and pigs born alive
  4. eSows that were weaned and farrowed regardless of the day that were bred