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Preweaning piglet mortality is largely attributed to the incidence of low birth weight and birth weight variation within the litter. Therefore, developing strategies to increase within-litter uniformity of piglet birth weight is important. This study investigated the effects of different feeding strategies based on specific nutrient supplies in sow diet on the within-litter variation of piglet birth weight (BW0). Four batches of highly prolific crossbred Landrace × Large White sows were used. Three dietary treatments were compared: supplies of dextrose during the week before insemination (190 g/d) and of L-arginine (25.5 g/d) from d 77 of pregnancy until term (DEXA, n = 26); a dietary supplementation of L-arginine only (25.5 g/d), from d 77 of pregnancy until term (ARGI, n = 24); and no supplementation to a standard gestation diet (CTL; n = 23). Total born piglets (TB), i.e., piglets born alive (BA) and stillborn piglets, were numbered and weighed at birth and at weaning. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using the MIXED procedure in a model that included dietary treatment (ARGI, DEXA, and CTL), initial parity (1, 2 and 3, 4, and more), and backfat thickness (below or above the average value at the onset of the experiment: 15.7 mm) as the main effects and batch as random effect. The treatment did not influence (P > 0.10) the number of piglets at birth (on average 15.6 ± 3.8 and 14.2 ± 3.6 for TB and BA, respectively) or piglet BW0 (on average 1.48 ± 0.26 and 1.50 ± 0.26 kg for TB and BA, respectively). The coefficient of variation of piglet BW0 (CV(BW0)) was less in litters from ARGI sows than in litters from CTL sows and intermediate in litters from DEXA sows (for TB: 21.4, 23.4, and 25.7%, P = 0.08; for BA: 20.6, 22.5, and 25.4%, P = 0.03, in the ARGI, DEXA, and CTL groups, respectively). Irrespective of diet, CV(BW0) was less (P 0.10) by dietary treatments. In conclusion, supplementing gestation diet with L-arginine during the last third of pregnancy reduced within-litter variation of piglet birth weight. Combining L-arginine dietary supply with a supplementation of dextrose before insemination provided no additional benefit.

Fifty-nine multiparous Large White x Landrace sows were used to determine the effects of high ambient temperature and level of dietary heat increment on lactation and reproductive performance. During a 28-d lactation and the 14-d postweaning period, ambient temperature was maintained constant at 20 or 29 degrees C. Experimental diets fed during lactation were a control diet (NP; 17.6% crude protein) and two low-protein diets obtained by reduction of CP level (LP; 14.2% CP) and both reduction of CP and addition of 4% fat (LPF; 15.2% CP); the NE:ME ratio was 74.3, 75.6, and 75.8% for NP, LP, and LPF diets, respectively. All diets provided 0.82 g of digestible lysine/MJ of NE, and ratios between essential amino acids and lysine were above recommendations. During the ad libitum period (i.e., between d 7 and 27 of lactation), ADFI and NE intake decreased, respectively, from 7.63 to 4.22 kg and 82.0 to 43.3 MJ of NE when the temperature increased from 20 to 29 degrees C. Exposure to 29 degrees C reduced litter BW gain (2,152 vs 2,914 g/d) and increased lactation BW loss (34 vs 16 kg) but increased postweaning BW gain (2 vs - 4 kg). Expressed per kilogram of feed intake, water intake increased from 4.0 to 7.5 L between 20 and 29 degrees C. Compared with the NP diet, low-CP diets (LP or LPF) maintained performance and reduced total N excretion (-22.5%) in lactating sows at thermoneutrality and attenuated the negative effects of high temperature on NE intake and BW loss (40.9 vs 47.9 MJ of NE/d and 41 vs 30 kg for NP and LP + LPF diets, respectively). Temperature and diet composition did not affect the reproductive performances, and the mean weaning-to-estrus interval was 4.9 d. The respiratory rate and skin, udder, and rectal temperatures increased markedly at 29 degrees C (105 vs 33 breaths per min and 37.8 vs 36.1 degrees C, 38.9 vs 38.2 degrees C, and 39.5 vs 38.8 degrees C, respectively) without any effect of diet. In conclusion, low heat increment diets (i.e., with reduced CP/NE ratio) did not affect lactation performance of sows at thermoneutrality and attenuated the effects of high ambient temperature on energy intake and BW loss. At any ambient temperature, N excretion can be markedly reduced.