To evaluate the effects of glutamine (Gln) supplementation on sow performance during late gestation and lactation and their offspring, eighty pregnant, multiparous sows of a commercial hybrid line were used in a completely randomized, 2 χ 2 experimental design at the end of gestation and lactation, respectively. Females were subjected to a control diet or a Gln-supplemented diet (1% of L-glutamine) from 85 d of gestation until farrowing. During lactation, the dietary treatment groups were CON_C: without Gln supplementation; CON_G: Gln only during lactation; GLN_C: Gln only during gestation; GLN_ GLN: Gln during gestation and lactation. At 105 d of gestation, there was no statistical difference regarding the body weight of the sows, however, sows fed the Gln-supplemented diet had greater backfat thickness at P1 and loin depth at P2 than control sows. Placental weight and efficiency showed no effect between treatments. Litters born from Gln-supplemented sows tended to be heavier at birth compared to control litters, reducing the probability of piglets weighing less than 1.5 kg. In addition, litters from supplemented sows had a lower standard deviation of BW at birth. There were no effects of dietary treatments on the performance of sows and offspring during the lactation period. Maternal Gln supplementation during late gestation improved piglet weight and litter uniformity at birth without affecting sow body composition after farrowing.

Thirty-six castrated male pigs were used to determine the influence of thermal environment and reduction of consumption on performance and carcass composition. Animals were housed in two climate chambers. In one, animals were in thermal comfort (TN) (22 °C), and in the other, pigs were under heat stress (HS) (34 °C). Animals were distributed in a randomized block design, making three treatments (TN, HS and animals in thermal comfort with food consumption paired with that observed in HS (PFTN)), with six replicates and two animals per experimental unit. Data were obtained on performance and carcass composition. The weight gains of HS and PFTN animals were reduced by 40.5% and 34.7%, respectively, reflecting a reduction of 13.2% in the final weight of PFTN animals. Triiodothyronine concentration was not affected by heat, but there was an increase in lymphocyte numbers in PFTN animals. The HS and PFTN animals showed lower hot carcass weight. However, there were no effects on hot carcass yield and relative weights of heart, lung and spleen. Heat stress compromised performance. The negative effects of high temperature on pigs include reduction in feed intake and changes in physiology.

Avaliou-se o efeito de níveis de treonina digestível em rações sobre o desempenho e características de cacaça de suínos machos castrados, selecionados geneticamente, para deposição de carne na carcaça, na fase de terminação. Foram utilizados 70 animais, com peso inicial de 59,00+1,25kg, distribuídos em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos, sete repetições e dois animais por unidade experimental, sendo que na distribuição dos animais, foi adotado como critério o peso inicial. Os tratamentos foram níveis de treonina na ração (0,480; 0,504; 0,528; 0,554 e 0,572% de treonina digestível). Não houve efeito (P>0,05) dos tratamentos sobre o ganho de peso, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar. Os níveis de treonina digestível não influenciaram (P>0,05) a porcentagem de carne e a espessura de toucinho na carcaça. Conclui-se que o nível de 0,480% de treonina digestível, correspondente a relação de treonina digestível:lisina digestível de 60%, atendeu as exigências de suínos machos castrados de alto potencial para deposição de carne na carcaça dos 60 aos 95kg.

An experiment was carried out to determine the effects of digestible threonine levels in ration on the performance and carcass traits of hogs genetically selected for lean deposition at finishing. Seventy barrows averaging an initial weight of 59.00+1.25kg were distributed in a randomized experimental block design with five treatments and seven replicates, being two animals per experimental unit. Initial weight was adopted as a criterion for animal distribution in the treatments, which were the levels of digestible treonine in the diet (0.480; 0.504; 0.528; 0.554; and 0.572%). No effect (P>0.05) was observed among the treatments on daily weight gain, daily feed intake, and feed conversion. Digestible threonine levels did not influence (P>0.05) lean and backfat thickness percentage. It can be concluded that the level of 0.480% of digestible treonine, corresponding to the rate digestible treonine:lysine 60%, supplied the requirments of high potential lean deposition barows from 60 to 95kg.

Utilizaram-se 48 porcas primíparas, de genética PIC, com média de peso de 185,03±15,78kg, para avaliar diferentes níveis de energia digestível (3.350, 3.500, 3.650 e 3.800kcal/kg) na ração, durante a lactação (19,98±1,04 dias). Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos e 12 repetições, sendo a porca considerada a unidade experimental. O consumo total de ração não variou entre os animais dos tratamentos, sendo que as porcas consumiram em média 4,0kg de ração por dia. O consumo de energia digestível aumentou de forma linear, de acordo com o nível de energia na ração. Não se observou efeito do nível de energia da ração sobre a mobilização de reserva corporal, as características reprodutivas e o nível de insulina no soro das porcas. Observou-se aumento linear do ganho de peso dos leitões em função do consumo de energia das porcas. Conclui-se que porcas primíparas em lactação exigem 3.800kcal/kg de ração, correspondente a um consumo de 14.307kcal/dia.

Forty-eight primiparous sows (PIC), weighting in average of 185.03±15.78kg, were used to evaluate different levels of digestible energy (3,350; 3,500; 3,650 and 3,800 kcal/kg) during lactation (19.98±1.04 days). A completely randomized design was used with four treatments, 12 replicates, being the sow considered as the experimental unit. The sows were daily fed with 4.0kg of the experimental diet. Energy intake increased linearly, according to the level of digestible energy in the diet. The energy level in the diet did not affect the mobilization of corporal reserve, the reproductive characteristics and the levels of insulin of the serum of the sows. Weight gain of piglets and litter increased linearly, according to the dietary energy levels. It was concluded that primiparous lactating sows need to intake at least 14,307kcal/day.