Thirty crossbred sows averaging 118.18±12.2 kg of BW, backfat thickness of 13.82±1.42 mm and 220 days old were assigned to a completely randomized design in a split plot scheme with 10 replicates and parturition orders included in the plots (3 x 3 factorial arrangement) and CP ingestion levels (10.0, 13.5, and 17.0%) in the sub-plots. The effects of dietary CP ingestion levels on female performance in three complete successive reproductive cycles were evaluated during the pregnancy. Sow weight gain in the pregnancy was affected only by dietary protein levels in the gestation. No significant effect of both dietary protein level and parturition order on BT gain during the pregnancy and the loss during the lactation was observed. Neither treatments nor parity orders affected energy efficiency. Average litter weight at birth, average litter weight at weaning, number of total piglets born (NTPB) and born alive (BA) and number of weaned pigs were affected by parity order. Litter performance for daily average weight gain (DAWG) of piglet did not vary among the treatments. No treatment effect on the relative weight (%) was observed. Feed intake (FI) during the lactation and weaning-mating interval (WMI) were affected by the treatments, and FI was affected only by parity order. The 17% CP level resulted in better body tissue gain during the pregnancy and lower WMI and the 10% CP level the highest feed intake, and that was independent of parity order. The parity order affected NTPB and BA, litter DAWG and WMI, that were greater in the third parity.
backfat thickness; female weight gain; lactation; weaning-mating interval
