ABSTRACT
I. Introduction ...........................................................................................................................771 II. Effects of Protein and Energy Intake on Reproductive Characteristics
of Developing Boars .............................................................................................................772 III. Effects of Protein and Energy Intake on Reproductive Characteristics
of Adult Boars.......................................................................................................................773 A. Effects of Protein Intake ...........................................................................................773 B. Effects of Energy Intake ...........................................................................................775
IV. Energy Requirements of Breeding Boars: A Factorial Approach........................................777 A. Maintenance ..............................................................................................................777 B. Growth.......................................................................................................................778 C. Reproduction .............................................................................................................778 D. Total Requirements ...................................................................................................779
V. Vitamins and Minerals for Breeding Boars..........................................................................779 A. Vitamin E and Selenium...........................................................................................779 B. Calcium, Phosphorus, and Biotin .............................................................................779 C. Vitamin A ..................................................................................................................780 D. Zinc............................................................................................................................780
VI. Conclusions ...........................................................................................................................780 References ......................................................................................................................................780
Breeding boars are a relatively small part of the pig population, which is probably the reason that their nutrition has received relatively little attention. Information regarding nutritional requirements and effects of nutrition on reproductive aspects of the boar is therefore relatively scarce. Thus in this chapter, relative old literature is sometimes cited, but one should realize that the modern breeding boar is genetically a different animal from those boars used 20 to 30 years ago. The feed requirements for boars as provided by nutritionists around the world are often based on sow data. The aim of this chapter is to review the available information on the nutrition for breeding boars, which then can be incorporated into nutritional requirement settings.
