# The Use of Precision Feeding During the Lactation of a Traditional Breed, Iberian Pig, Improves Maternal Nutritional Status and Offspring Performance

## TL;DR

Precision feeding in Iberian pigs improves sow nutrition and piglet growth without harming welfare, boosting sustainability.

## Contribution

This study demonstrates that precision feeding in Iberian pigs enhances maternal and offspring outcomes without affecting welfare.

## Key findings

- Precision feeding reduced maternal feed use without affecting body weight or condition.
- PF piglets had higher weaning weights and daily weight gains, especially in late lactation.
- PF sows showed better glucose and lipid metabolism with lower NEFAs and improved cholesterol.

## Abstract

The use of electronic sow feeders (ESFs) during lactation in Iberian pigs results in increases in weaning weights of piglets concurrently with decreases in maternal feed expenses, which boosts the economic and environmental sustainability of production. The present trial also evidences improvements in metabolic traits of sows and piglets, of paramount importance in fatty breeds, without modifying welfare biomarkers.

The present study evaluated the impact of precision feeding using Electronic Sow Feeders (ESFs) during lactation on the nutritional status of Iberian sows and the performance of their offspring under intensive farming conditions. Fifty-three second-parity Iberian sows were assigned to three feeding systems: ESFs (PF), feeding ball (FB), and conventional feeders (CON). Results showed that PF sows had a significantly lower feed disappearance, without affecting body weight and condition, when compared to FB and CON groups (p < 0.05). Although milk yield did not differ significantly among groups, PF piglets exhibited higher weaning weights and average daily weight gains (ADWG), particularly during the second half of lactation (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). Metabolic profiling revealed an improved glucose and lipid homeostasis in PF sows, with lower Non-Esterified Fatty Acids (NEFAs) levels and more favorable cholesterol profiles (p < 0.05 for all). No remarkable differences were observed in welfare biomarkers (salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase) among treatments. These findings suggest that precision feeding enhances feed efficiency, stabilizes maternal metabolism, and improves piglet growth in traditional swine breeds (“fatty pigs”) like the Iberian pig, offering a sustainable strategy for intensifying production without compromising animal welfare.