Table 3 Number of piglets at birth and weaning; sows’ weight changes and weight of piglets during the experimental period

 Total born

11.6^b

14.2^c

9.63^a

1.450

< 0.001

 Live born

11.6^b

13.8^c

9.13^a

1.420

< 0.001

 Stillborn

0.12^a

0.22^b

0.49^c

0.440

< 0.001

 At weaning

10.9

11.3

9.51

0.769

0.19

 Sows’ initial weight², kg

320

328

333

11.40

0.50

 Sows’ weight change, kg

+ 3.87

−1.29

+ 3.08

5.700

0.50

 At birth

1.75

1.60

1.56

0.100

0.30

 Week 1

3.18^a

2.66^b

2.88^ab

0.190

0.03

 Week 2

5.25

4.62

4.83

0.310

0.15

 Week 3

7.36

6.64

6.70

0.490

0.33

 Week 4

9.53

8.42

8.58

0.630

0.22

 Weight gain

7.75

6.81

7.07

0.580

0.30