Table 2 Productive parameters (mean ± SD or proportion [percentage] plus CI) of the four studied experimental groups

Total born piglets /sow

14.1 ± 2.8^a

13.9 ± 2.5^a

14.3 ± 3.5^a

13.6 ± 3.6^a

Live born piglets/sow

13.3 ± 2.7^a

13.5 ± 2.6^a

13.4 ± 3.6^a

12.9 ± 3.7^a

Weaning-to-mate interval (days)

4.2 ± 3.6^a

4.7 ± 5.9^a

4.8 ± 5.7^a

4.6 ± 5.0^a

Weaning-to-fecundation interval (days)

30.7 ± 7.7^a

30.6 ± 6.7^a

30.7 ± 6.6^a

30.2 ± 5.3^a

Weaned piglets/sow

12.0 ± 2.5^a

12.2 ± 2.4^a

12.1 ± 3.1^a

11.8 ± 3.7^a

Abortions

1/60 (1.7%)^a

CI: −1.6-4.9%

3/59 (5.1%)^a

CI: −0.5-10.7%

0/61 (0.0%)^a

CI: 0.0%

2/53 (3.8%)^a

CI: −1.4–8,9%

Mummies

9/815 (1.1%)^A

CI: 0.4–1.8%

10/753 (1.3%)^A,B

CI: 0.5–2.1%

15/856 (1.8%)^A,B

CI: 0.9–2.6%

15/695 (2.2%)^B

CI: 1.1–3.2%

Stillbirth

37/815 (4.5%)^a

CI: 3.1–6.0%

27/753 (3.6%)^a

CI: 2.3–4.9%

41/856 (4.8%)^a

CI: 3.4–6.2%

24/695 (3.5%)^a

CI: 2.1–4.8%

Dead suckling piglets

74/769 (9.6%)^a

CI: 7.5–11.7%

67/727 (9.2%)^a

CI: 7.1–11.3%

72/799 (9.0%)^a

CI: 7.0–11.0%

58/658 (8.8%)^a

CI: 6.6–11.0%

Cross-fostered piglets

40/694 (5.8%)^a,A,B

CI: 4.0–7.5%

33/659 (5.0%)^{a, A}

CI: 3.3–6.7%

54/726 (7.4%)^a,b,B

CI: 5.5–9.3%

53/600 (8.8%)^b,A,B

CI: 6.6–11.1%

Piglets birth weight (Kg)

1.62 ± 0.40^a,b

1.66 ± 0.38^a

1.64 ± 0.39^a

1.58 ± 0.38^b

Weaned piglet weight (Kg)

6.49 ± 1.50^a

6.52 ± 1.48^a

6.52 ± 1.45^a

6.37 ± 1.48^a