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A total of 194 sows or gilts were used. Animals were allotted to the 3 treatments of control (corn-soybean meal diet), control diet plus 0.30% psyllium or control diet with 20% soybean hulls. The Lys and ME concentrations were reduced in the diet with soybean hulls. Calcium, phosphorus, salt and the vitamin premix also were reduced to keep a constant nutrient: ME ratio. Sows were weighed at mating, day 110 of gestation, 12h postpartum, 17 days postpartum and at weaning. Feed consumption was collected from day 110 to day 4 postpartum, from day 4 to 7, from day 8 to 14, from day 15 to 21 postpartum. Faecal samples were collected on day 112 of gestation and day 4 postpartum, and were scored on day 112 of gestation and day 4 postpartum, the scores ranged from 1 to 5 (with 1 = dry and 5 = watery).
Gestating sows fed psyllium showed higher BW and ADG on days 110 of gestation, farrowing, 17 days postpartum and weaning compared with sows fed soybean hulls. Sows fed psyllium also had a higher BW and gestation ADG than the sows fed the control diet. Sows fed soybean hulls had a reduced farrowing BW compared with the control. Sows fed psyllium weaned lighter pigs than sows fed the control diet. Faecal scores were higher and DM content decreased in faeces of the sows fed soybean hulls compared with sows fed psyllium or the control diet on day 112 gestation and day 4 postpartum.
I n conclusion, sows fed soybean hulls during gestation had reduced farrowing BW compared with sows fed the control diets. Sows fed psyllium had an increased BW through the reproductive cycle.
CS Darroch, CR Dove, CV Maxwell, ZB Johnson and LL Southern 2008. Journal of Animal Science, 86: 1573-1578.
