EUBIOTIC LIGNOCELLULOSE SUPPLEMENTATION IN SOWS REDUCED DRY PERIOD AND PREWEANING MORTALITY OF PIGLETS

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of supplementing eubiotic lignocellulose on reproductive performance of breeder sows. Seventy female pigs (average parity: 2.62 ± 0.19, Landrace x Large White) were allotted to two dietary treatments following randomized complete block design, with parity as blocking factor. Eubiotic lignocellulose supplementation was given at 25 and 10kg/ ton add-on at gestating and lactating diets, respectively. Eubiotic lignocellulose supplementation during gestation and lactation reduced preweaning mortality of piglets (P<0.01) and dry period of sows (P=0.0775). However, supplementation had no significant effect on other variables measured. This indicates that increasing the fiber content of the diet by adding eubiotic lignocellulose during gestating and lactating stages enhances piglet survival and indirectly improves the reproductive performance of sows by shortening the dry period.