Feed flavour in rations for pregnant and lactating gilts and for suckling pigs. [Portuguese]

24 Landrace gilts were mated with Large White males. During pregnancy the gilts were kept in a paddock of Cynodon dactylon with shelter until 7 days before farrowing, when they were transferred to farrowing pens where the gilts and their litters remained during the lactation period (35 days). Feed flavour (Firanor-24) was added to the gilts' ration at 0, 250, 500 and 750 p.p.m. during 7 days before farrowing, during the lactation period and to suckling pigs' ration. A cubic effect was observed for number of pigs at 21 days (P<0.05) and 35 days of age (P<0.01), and for survival rate from birth to 35 days of age (P<0.05). Pig weight at 21 and 35 days of age, and weight gain from birth to 35 days of age were not affected (P<0.05) by the feed flavour added. Feed intake of the gilts during the lactation period and feed intake of the piglets was not affected by the treatments.