Effects of thaumatin-based sweetener on feed intake of lactating sows and weaner pigs

In experiment 1, 40 lactating sows, about 183 kg, were fed on diets containing a thaumatin-based sweetener 0, 50, 100 or 150 g/kg in a complete block design. Average daily feed intakes of sows were 4.5, 4.3 4.4 and 4.8 kg and weight loss of sows after weaning was 12.5, 11.7, 13.3 and 10.1%; and average piglet weight at weaning was 6.6, 6.6, 6.8 and 6.4 kg, respectively. Sows given sweetener 150 g/kg had increased feed intake (not significant). In experiment 2, 40 weaners about 10 kg were fed on diets containing thaumatin based sweeteners 0, 150, 200, 250 and 300 g/kg. Average daily gains were 356, 366, 365, 348 and 359 g; average daily feed intakes were 788, 786, 808, 790 and 781 g; and feed conversion ratios were 2.21, 2.17, 2.20, 2.26 and 2.19, respectively. There was no significant differences among treatments. Ambient temperature was 23 degrees to 30.1 degrees C. It was concluded that heat stress due to high environmental temperature suppressed appetite and the addition of thaumatin in the feed was not enough to overcome the adverse effects of high ambient temperatures and to enable the pigs to increase feed intake.