Precision Feeding in Lactating Sows Improves Growth Performance and Carcass Quality of Their Progeny

María Aparicio-Arnay (), Natalia Yeste-Vizcaíno (), Nerea Soria, Jorge Cambra, Beatriz Isabel, Carlos Piñeiro and Antonio Gonzalez-Bulnes
Additional contact information
María Aparicio-Arnay: Animal Data Analytics, S.L., C/Dámaso Alonso, 14, 40006 Segovia, Spain
Natalia Yeste-Vizcaíno: Cuarte S.L., Grupo Jorge, Ctra. de Logroño km 9.2, Monzalbarba, 50120 Zaragoza, Spain
Nerea Soria: Cuarte S.L., Grupo Jorge, Ctra. de Logroño km 9.2, Monzalbarba, 50120 Zaragoza, Spain
Jorge Cambra: Cuarte S.L., Grupo Jorge, Ctra. de Logroño km 9.2, Monzalbarba, 50120 Zaragoza, Spain
Beatriz Isabel: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, UCM, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Carlos Piñeiro: Animal Data Analytics, S.L., C/Dámaso Alonso, 14, 40006 Segovia, Spain
Antonio Gonzalez-Bulnes: Cuarte S.L., Grupo Jorge, Ctra. de Logroño km 9.2, Monzalbarba, 50120 Zaragoza, Spain

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-10

Abstract: The use of electronic sow feeders (ESFs) during lactation has been associated with weaning of heavier piglets when compared to traditional feeders, with a lower amount of sow feed per kg of weaned piglet, improved welfare of the sow, and no negative effects on body condition or metabolic traits at weaning or subsequent reproductive yields. However, there have been no studies assessing the possible effects of ESF use on the lifelong development of the progeny. This study reveals that piglets weaned from sows fed with ESFs were heavier than those from sows fed with traditional feeders (5.91 ± 1.45 vs. 5.58 ± 1.23 kg, p < 0.005), with a lower amount of feed per kg of weaned piglet (2.41 ± 0.42 vs. 1.88 ± 0.28 kg, p < 0.0005). Subsequent differences in body weight increased due to a higher average daily weight gain during both the periods of nursery (0.332 ± 0.92 vs. 0.312 ± 0.80 kg/day, p < 0.01) and growing–finishing (0.921 ± 0.11 vs. 0.871 ± 0.09 kg/day, p < 0.001). Finally, the weights of the carcasses and primal pork pieces (ham, shoulder, loin, and belly) were also higher in pigs from sows fed with ESFs ( p < 0.001 for all).

Keywords: growth; lactation; pork quality; precision feeding; swine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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