Evaluation of feeding fat rich diets to Large White Yorkshire sows on feed intake and digestibility of nutrients

The present study was conducted at Centre for Pig Production and Research, Mannuthy using eighteen gestating Large White Yorkshire (LWY) sowsfrom 75th day of gestation to 42nd day of farrowing to evaluate the effect of supplementing rendered fat at two different levels on intake and digestibility of nutrients. Experimental animals were grouped into three dietary treatments of six animals each following the completely randomized design. Control diet (C) was formulated as per NRC, 2012 (3300 kcal MEkg feed and 18 per cent crude protein (CP). Other two dietary treatments were prepared by supplementation of control diet with rendered fat at five (SF5) and ten (SF10) percent levels. All sows were received experimental diets from 75th day of gestation to four weeks after farrowing and were maintained on farm rations up to 42ndday of farrowing. The weekly average daily dry matter intake (DMI)of Control and SF5 diets were higher (p