The farrowing process is one of the most energy-demanding activities for the modern hyperprolific sow. This study evaluated the effects of supply of energy on the expected date of farrowing on the farrowing kinetics and piglets’ performance during the first 24 h after birth. A total of 80 sows were used. The sows and their respective litters were considered as the experimental unit. On the expected day of farrowing, the sows were allocated to one of the following groups: sows that did not have access to feed from farrowing induction until the end of the farrowing process (CON, n = 40); sows fed 500 g of energetic supplement, which consisted of 250 g of the basal lactation diet plus 250 g of cane sugar, 18 h after farrowing induction (SUP, n = 40). The farrowing duration, farrowing assistance, birth interval, number of total born, stillborn and mummified piglets were recorded for each sow. Piglets were weighed individually at birth and 24 h later. The interval from birth to first suckle was evaluated individually for each piglet in 16 randomly selected litters (eight litters per treatment group). Blood glucose concentrations of six sows were measured shortly after expulsion of the first piglet. Farrowing duration, farrowing assistance and stillborn rate tended to be greater (P = 0.06, P = 0.09 and P = 0.07, respectively) in sows from the CON group compared to sows from the SUP group. However, there was no difference (P > 0.05) between the groups for birth interval. Colostrum intake was greater (P < 0.05) for piglets from the SUP group compared to piglets from the CON group. Additionally, BW gain of the piglets suckling the SUP group was greater (P < 0.05) than those suckling the CON group at 24 h after birth. The blood glucose concentrations during the expulsive stage of farrowing were greater (P < 0.05) in the SUP group than for sows from the CON group. In conclusion, supplying modern hyperprolific sows energy on the expected day of farrowing is a valuable nutritional intervention to improve the farrowing kinetics and piglets’ performance in early life.

分娩过程是现代多产母猪最需要能量的活动之一。本研究评估了预计分娩日期的能量供应对分娩后最初 24 小时内的分娩动力学和仔猪生产性能的影响。总共使用了80头母猪。母猪及其各自的窝被视为实验单位。在预期的分娩日，母猪被分配到以下组之一：从分娩诱导到分娩过程结束都无法获得饲料的母猪（CON，n = 40）；母猪在分娩诱导后 18 小时饲喂 500 克能量补充剂，其中包括 250 克基础泌乳日粮和 250 克蔗糖（SUP，n= 40)。记录每头母猪的分娩时间、分娩辅助、分娩间隔、总出生、死产和木乃伊仔猪的数量。仔猪在出生时和 24 小时后分别称重。在 16 个随机选择的窝（每个治疗组 8 窝）中，对每只仔猪从出生到第一次哺乳的间隔进行单独评估。在第一头小猪被驱逐后不久，测量了六头母猪的血糖浓度。与 SUP 组相比，CON 组母猪的分娩时间、分娩辅助和死产率往往更高（分别为P = 0.06、P = 0.09 和P = 0.07）。但是没有区别（P> 0.05) 组之间的出生间隔。与 CON 组相比，SUP 组仔猪的初乳摄入量更高（P < 0.05）。此外，在出生后 24 小时，SUP 组哺乳仔猪的体重增加大于 CON 组（P < 0.05）。SUP组母猪在分娩阶段的血糖浓度高于CON组（P < 0.05）。总之，在预产期为现代高产母猪提供能量是一种有价值的营养干预措施，可以改善产仔动力学和仔猪早期的生产性能。