BODY COMPOSITION AND GLYCOGEN RESERVES IN THE NEONATAL PIG DURING THE FIRST 96 HOURS POSTPARTUM

Abstract

Yorkshire sows (14) were given either 0.45 or 2.27 kg feed/day from day 190 of gestation until farrowing to determine if short-term nutritional stress during late pregnancy affected the energy reserves or body composition of their piglets at birth or during the early postnatal period (96 h). The diets were formulated so that the intake of trace minerals and vitamins in both groups was the same. Level of feeding from day 100 of gestation affected significantly (P < .01) the weight change of the sows to farrowing, but not birthweight of the piglets, their muscle glycogen levels or their body composition. Piglets from sows fed 2.27 kg/day had significantly (P < .05) higher liver glycogen levels at birth, but this advantage had disappeared by 6 h postpartum. Level of prepartum feeding did not affect the rate of utilization of glycogen by the piglets postpartum. Percentages of fat and protein in the piglets increased and those of water and NFE [N free extract] decreased significantly (P .ltoreq. .05) during the 96-h postpartum period.