Relationship between backfat thickness of sows during late gestation and reproductive efficiency at different parities

The present study investigated the impact of sow backfat (BF) thickness at d 109 of gestation (≤10, 11 to 12, 13 to 14, 15 to 16, 17 to 18, 19 to 20, 21 to 22, 23 to 24, 25 to 26 and ≥27 mm) at different parities (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and ≥8) on sow and piglet performance based on records from 11,536 farrowings of 2875 sows. For each parity, an increase in sow BF thickness at d 109 of gestation was associated with (1) a linear decrease (P < 0.05) in sow daily feed intake, (2) a linear increase (P < 0.05) in losses of maternal BF thickness and body weight during the lactation period, and BF gain from weaning to d 109 of subsequent gestation, and (3) a concave down quadratic change (P < 0.05) in litter size and litter gain at weaning.