TY - JOUR JO - Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences J2 - J. Anim. Feed Sci. SN - 1230-1388 VL - 27 IS - 3 PY - 2018 ID - Więcek2018 TI - Colostrum and milk quality of sows fed different diets during mid-pregnancy AB - The aim of the study was to assess the quality of colostrum and milk with reproductive performance in sows offered different feed allowances from day 41 to 70 of gestation. In the study 20 F1 sows (Polish Landrace x Polish Large White), 10 animals per group: Control and Experimental, were used. During mid-pregnancy period, sows received 2.3 kg (Control) and 3.0 kg (Experimental) of feed daily. Samples of colostrum (farrowing day) and milk (day 21 of lactation) were collected and its chemical composition, fatty acid profile, and somatic cell count (SCC) were determined. Piglets were counted and weighed at parturition and at day 21 of life. Colostrum collected from sows from Experimental group contained more fat ( P < 0.05) than that from Control group. Tendency to higher protein content in milk was observed in the Experimental group. SCC in the colostrum and milk of sows from Experimental group was higher than that in Control group ( P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). The higher proportion of PUFA n6 in milk was noted in milk from Experimental group ( P < 0.01). There were no significant differences between groups regarding reproductive performance; however body weight of piglets at 21 day of age and piglet daily body weight gain in Experimental group tended to be higher than that in Control. Therefore, it seems appropriate to increase the feed allowances for sows to 3 kg feed/day from days 41 to 70 of pregnancy in order to gain more beneficial chemical composition and fatty acid profile of colostrum and milk. Moreover, the tendency to improve piglet growth performance can be observed. AU - Więcek, J. AU - Rekiel, A. AU - Bartosik, J. AU - Głogowski, R. AU - Kuczyńska, B. SP - 248 EP - 254 DA - 2018 DO - 10.22358/jafs/93953/2018 UR - https://doi.org/10.22358/jafs/93953/2018 ER -