Performance and longevity of sows according to ambient conditions and feeding during lactation

The study presented confirms earlier work showing that the lactation performance of sows was strongly depressed when the ambient temperature permanently exceeded 25°C. In addition we show that the sensitivity to heat varies among sows and affects their longevity in the herd. Also, although heavier weaned piglets were obtained by increasing the nutrient concentrations in the feed, the formula used did not mitigate the degraded condition of the sows. Other formulation patterns remain to be tested.