EFFICIENCY OF UTILIZATION OF FOOD ENERGY BY PREGNANT AND LACTATING SOWS

The efficiency of dietary energy (DE) utilization based on maize, soya bean meal and starch for pregnant sows and on maize and soya bean meal for lactating sows, with an average weight at farrowing ranging between 110 and 160 kg, was measured. The diets were utilized at 90–92% as DE and at up to 90% as metabolizable energy (ME) by pregnant sows, and at 91.5–95.5% as DE and at 90–92.9% as ME by lactating sows. The energy requirement for maintenance and pregnancy (y) is given by the equation: