Effect of feeding levels with high micronutrients on the reproductive performance and plasma progesterone concentration in early gestation sows

This experiment investigated the effect of feeding levels with high micronutrients on the reproductive performance and plasma progesterone concentration in early gestation sows. Thirty-six first-parity sows (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc), with an initial average body weight of 160.85 kg, were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments during early gestation: Treatment 1) fed 1.5 kg/day (days 1-30), Treatment 2) fed 1.5 kg/day with 1.7 times the vitamins and minerals (total vitamin E 150 IU) (days 1-15) and fed 1.5 kg/day (days 16-30), Treatment 3) fed 1.5 kg/day with 1.7 times the vitamins and minerals (total vitamin E 150 IU) (days 1-30), and Treatment 4) fed 2.5 kg/day (days 1-30), with nine replicates per treatment. At day 30 of gestation, sows in Treatment 4 had the highest body weight, body condition score, and backfat thickness (P < 0.01). Treatment 4 had the highest litter size, but no difference between Treatments 2 and 3 (P > 0.05). Treatments 2 and 3 had a high litter size but lower stillborn and mummified piglets, which led to a higher number of weaned piglets than Treatments 1 and 4 (P < 0.05). Treatment 3 had the highest plasma progesterone concentration at 10 and 30 days of gestation (P > 0.05). In conclusion, low feed intake with 1.7 times the vitamins and minerals levels (treatments 2 and 3) in the early gestation stage increases litter size, similar to high feed intake that contains 1.7 times the vitamins and minerals (treatment 4). However, the plasma progesterone concentration showed no significant difference among the treatment groups.