DIETARY VITAMIN-E AND FAT SOURCE AND LACTATING PERFORMANCE OF PRIMIPAROUS SOWS AND THEIR PIGLETS

Two experiments were performed to study the effect of levels of vitamin E and sources of dietary fat on the reproductive performance and milk production of primiparous sows and on performance of suckling piglets. Experiment 1 was set up with two fat sources (sunflower oil and animal fat, 5% in the diet) and three levels of vitamin E (13, 48, 136 mg kg-1 feed). A total of 45 gilts (7-8 animals per treatment) received the same dietary treatment throughout pregnancy and 4 weeks of lactation. In experiment 2, two levels of vitamin E (14 and 126 mg kg-1 feed) were used in the diet during 4 weeks of lactation (15-16 sows per treatment) and the milk production was measured. It was concluded that the levels of vit. E and the types of fat used had no significant effect on the litter size and live weight of piglets during suckling. The milk yield was also not affected significantly by the dietary vitamin E levels. In the animal fat group, the higher vit. E intake increased the colostral vit. E content (P < 0.05). At weaning the increase of vit. E in milk was somewhat clearer in sows fed animal fat than sunflower oil.