Table 4. The effect of gestation feeding frequency on litter size, litter weight and piglet weight in lactating sows

Criteria Treatment SEM p-value
OF TF
No. sows 10 10 -
Litter size (no. of piglets)
 Total born 12.7 11.9 0.76 0.343
 Stillborn 1.3 1.2 0.40 0.910
 Mummy 0.0 0.0 0.00 -
 Born alive 11.4 10.6 0.53 0.295
 After-cross-fostering 10.8 10.8 0.14 -
 Death 0.3 0.4 0.13 0.726
 Weaning pigs 10.5 10.4 0.17 0.758
Litter weight (kg)
 At birth 19.82 17.34 1.054 0.152
 After-cross-fostering 17.34 17.29 0.653 0.975
 d 21 71.08 70.08 1.653 0.745
 Litter daily weight gain (d 0–21) 2.56 2.51 1.442 0.715
Piglet weight (kg)
 At birth 1.58 1.53 0.071 0.332
 After-cross-fostering 1.60 1.61 0.063 0.971
 d 21 6.77 6.75 0.130 0.966
 Piglet daily weight gain (d 0–21) 0.25 0.25 0.100 0.938
OF, once daily feeding; TF, twice daily feeding.