Effect Of Different Levels Of Alfalfa Meal On The Production Performance Of Primiparous Sows

The objective of this study was to explore the effects of different proportional alfalfa meal in replacement gilt,pregnant and lactation sows' diets on estrus rate,the number born,the newborn litter weight,weight of weaning litter,and serum biochemical indices,milk composition of sows.A preliminary discussion of its mechanism provides a scientific basis for the application of alfalfa meal in the production of primiparous sows.Experiment 1: Effects of differient levels of alfalfa meal on the production performance of replacement gilts.640 healthy gilts with the age of 110 d and the body weight of about 45 kg were randomly divided into four treatments,including control group(0% alfalfa meal),5% alfalfa meal group,10% alfalfa meal group and 15% alfalfa meal group,4 replicates each treatment and 40 pigs each replicate.The results showed that:(1)45-70 kg in the replacement gilts,the feed intake of the alfalfa meal groups was lower than control group,and that was reduced with increasing of alfalfa meal proportion in the diets.The daily gain and feed conversion rate of 5% alfalfa meal group were significantly higher than those of 10% and 15% alfalfa meal groups(P<0.05),however,there no significant difference between that and control group.The weight gain cost of 5% alfalfa meal group was lower than the control group,and it was increased in alfalfa meal amount order in the diets.70-130 kg in the replacement gilts,both of the feed intake and the daily gain in the three alfalfa meal groups were lower than the control group,and those of 10% and 15% alfalfa meal groups were significantly lower than the control group(P<0.05),and those were reduced linearly as the alfalfa meal amount increased.The F/G and the weight gain cost of the 3 alfalfa meal groups were higher than the control group,and had a increasing tendency with increasing alfalfa meal proportion in the diets,and 15% alfalfa meal group was significantly higher than the control group(P<0.05).(2)The estrus rate of gilts in 5% alfalfa meal group was improved,but there were no significant difference among the 4treatments.(3)In alfalfa meal groups,serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase,cholesterol,and triglyceride decreased,and the levels of ALB,Ca and P were higher than those in the control group,but did not reach significant levels(P>0.05).Therefore,5% alfalfa meal is better for use in gilts' diets.Experiment 2: Effects of differient levels of alfalfa meal on the production performance of pregnant sows.The gilts of 5% alfalfa meal group had the best daily gain and estrus percentage,and those were selected as pregnant sows,which were divided into control group?(0% alfalfa meal),10% alfalfa meal group,15% alfalfa meal group and 20% alfalfa meal group afterestrus and artificial insemination.The replacement gilts of control group were still used to the control group(0% alfalfa meal)in gestation period.There were 5 treatments with 4replicates each treatment,3 pigs each replicate.The effect of setting up the control group I was to observe the follow-up effect of feeding alfalfa meal in the replacement gilts and not feeding during pregnancy,and its diet was the same as the control group.The results showed that:(1)The backfat thickness of the all alfalfa meal groups were significantly higher than the control group and the control group I(P<0.05).(2)The live birth litter size of control group ? and 10%,15%,20% alfalfa meal groups was significantly higher than that of control group,and the newborn litter weight was increased by 14.88%,6.89%,12.31% and 24.48%,and the rates of weak piglets were decreased by 53.44%,36.39%,87.37% and 62.78%,respectively,but did not reach significant levels.(3)Compared with the control group,the insulin content in alfalfa meal groups increased,and the difference was significant(P<0.05);the content of total protein in serum of alfalfa meal groups was higher than that of control group and control group I,which 20% alfalfa meal group had the highest content,and the difference was significant(P>0.05);the content of cholesterol in alfalfa meal groups decreased,the content of IGF-1 in the control group I and the alfalfa meal group were higher than the control group,but difference did not reach the significant level.(4)The milk protein,lactose,and milk fat in alfalfa meal group had increased,and the milk protein and milk fat in 20% alfalfa meal group had a significant increase with the control group.Therefore,the use of 20% alfalfa meal in pregnant sows' diet had the best effect,and the use of alfalfa meal in replacement gilts had a good follow-up effect.Experiment 3: Effects of differient levels of alfalfa meal on the production performance of lactationg sows.All pregnant sows in experiment 2 entered lactation as test sows in this experiment.From the 12 sows in the gestational control group,6 were randomly selected as the lactation control group,and the other groups randomly divided the sows into 2 treatments: 5% alfalfa meal group and 10% alfalfa meal group,6 replicates each treatment,1 pig each replicate.The results showed that:(1)The backfat loss of each alfalfa meal group was lower than control group,and the amount of backfat loss during lactation decreased with the level of alfalfa meal in the diet increasing.and 10% of the alfalfa meal group was significantly lower than the control group(P<0.05).(2)In alfalfa meal groups,7d litter weight and 14 d litter weight were higher than control group,and the 5% alfalfa meal group was significantly higher than 10% alfalfa meal group(P<0.05);the weaning litter weight of 5% alfalfa meal group was significantly higher than the 10% grass Powder group(P<0.05).(3)Compared with control group,control group I and 20% alfalfa meal group in pregnancy were fed with10% alfalfa meal during lactation,the content of insulin was significantly higher than control group(P<0.05).The content of total serum protein in alfalfa meal groups was higher than control group,and the difference was significant(P<0.05).Therefore,the use of 5%alfalfa meal in the lactating sows' diet had better effects.Comprehensively,the addition of 5% alfalfa meal in the replacement gilts' diets will not affect the growth of gilts,but its estrus rate and the reproductive performance were improved.In pregnancy,the live borth litter size,the newborn litter weight and piglets' health had the best effects by using 20% of alfalfa meal in the diet.Using 5% alfalfa meal in lactating sows' diets for the feed intake of sows and growth of piglets had a promoting effect.