PSVII-11 - Long-term evaluation of dietary OmniGen AF supplementation on reproductive performance and milk composition of sows

A cooperative study involving 189 litters from 114 sows [initial breeding body weight (BW), 200.8 ± 37.1 kg] was conducted at two experiment stations to investigate the effects of OmniGen AF (OG; Phibro Animal Health Corporation) supplementation in sow diets on reproductive performance and milk composition. Diets were: 1) corn-soybean meal-based control diet that met NRC (2012) requirement estimates or 2) control plus 0.75% OG. A common diet formulation was used by both stations. Sow allotment was balanced for breed, parity, and BW. Sows were allotted to diets at least 21 days prebreeding and were fed the diets continuously at 1.82 kg daily in gestation and ad libitum in lactation. Sow BWs were measured at breeding, prefarrowing, postfarrowing and weaning. Litter size responses were recorded within 24 h postpartum and individual pig weights were measured at birth and weaning. Milk samples were collected twice during lactation on d 5-7 and d 14-17. Supplementation with OG resulted in less (P < 0.05) BW change of sows during lactation (-12.1 vs. -8.2 kg). Total born (12.9 vs. 13.0), live born (11.7 vs. 12.0), and weaned (10.3 vs. 10.5) were similar for control and OG sows, respectively. Sows fed OG-based diets had greater (P < 0.05) litter weight for total born (18.3 vs. 19.3 kg) and weaned (63.2 vs. 67.0 kg), and lactation litter gain (47.8 vs. 50.7 kg). Lactation feed intake for control and OG sows (5.32 vs 5.52 kg, respectively) did not differ. Supplementing sow diets with OG increased (P = 0.057) lactose content (5.78 vs. 5.84%) and reduced (P = 0.047) protein content (4.77 vs. 4.68%) in milk. The results of this study demonstrated that supplemental OG at 0.75% in sow diets reduced weight loss during lactation and improved litter weights with marginal effects on milk composition of sows.