Effect of the feeding level during rearing on performance of Large White gilts. Part 2: Effect on metabolite profiles during gestation and lactation, and on glucose tolerance.

Eighteen primiparous Large White sows were selected on d 104 of gestation. Animals had either high (AP) or reduced (R) level of body fatness, as a result of different feeding levels during rearing. A jugular catheter was surgically implanted under general anaesthesia and regular blood sampling, glucose tolerance and meal tests were performed. Plasma concentrations of insulin, glucose, urea, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), phosphorus and calcium were determined by radio-immune assay or enzymatic assay. Plasma concentration of urea increased with the progress of lactation, whereas NEFA decreased. Results of glucose tolerance and test meals suggested that animals with greater body reserves at farrowing were less tolerant to glucose than the lean ones. In addition, the higher NEFA level observed in AP animals also suggested that the level of body fatness at farrowing might be involved in the regulation of feed intake during lactation and could partially explain the lower spontaneous feed intake observed in these animals.