Twice daily feeding during gestation improves maternal body reserves and fetal growth in sows under commercial conditions

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate whether splitting the daily feed allowance into two meals could improve maternal condition and fetal growth. A total of 338 Landrace × Yorkshire (Danbred) sows of parities 1 to 9 were used. Sows were first grouped by parity into three blocks (parity 1–2, n = 129; parity 3–5, n = 154; parity ≥ 6, n = 55). Within each block, animals were randomly assigned to one of two feeding frequency treatments: once daily (n = 156; 08:00 h) or twice daily (n = 182; 08:00 and 16:00 h). All sows received identical gestation diets across different stages (3.0, 2.5, and 3.3 kg during early, mid, and late gestation, respectively). The diet provided 3.25 Mcal ME/kg (12.9% crude protein), resulting in daily ME intakes of 9.75, 8.13, and 10.73 Mcal during early (days 1–35), mid (days 36–80), and late (days 81–110) gestation, respectively. Body weight (BW) and backfat thickness (BF) were measured on days 1, 35, 80, and 110 of gestation. Data were collected on piglet birth weight, farrowing duration, birth weight coefficient of variation (CV), number of live-born piglets, stillborn piglets, and mummified fetuses. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) did not differ between groups. Sows fed twice daily had significantly higher BW from mid-gestation onward (days 35, 80, and 110) and achieved greater cumulative weight gain (26.5 kg vs. 22.4 kg; P < 0.001). Backfat gain was higher in sows fed twice daily. Piglets from sows fed twice daily had significantly higher mean birth weights (1.31 kg vs. 1.17 kg; P < 0.001) accompanied by a reduced proportion of low-birth-weight piglets (<1.10 kg). Twice daily feeding did not affect litter size, farrowing duration, or birth weight CV, whereas parity significantly affected litter size and birth weight CV. There was no interaction between feeding frequency and parity. In conclusion, the present study shows that increasing feeding frequency to twice daily during gestation improves maternal body reserves and fetal growth in sows. This feeding approach offers a simple, practical management strategy to alleviate metabolic pressure and improve productivity in modern swine farming.