Effects of Crimson Clover Silage Inclusion on Nutrient Intake, Behavior, and Stress Condition in Gestating Sows

This study aimed to determine whether crimson clover silage (CSS) can serve as an effective and beneficial substitute for conventional sow diets, to enhance satiety and normal behavior, while reducing production costs. Six sows with an average initial body weight (BW) of 246.0 ± 16.0 kg and an initial backfat thickness of 23.8 ± 1.10 mm were assigned to a 6 × 2 crossover design. Each feeding period included a 10-day acclimation period and a 10-day data collection period for each treatment. In the test treatment, a commercial diet was replaced by CCS on a dry matter (DM) basis at 20%, while the control treatment had no CCS inclusion. Data on daily feed intake, BW, and backfat thickness were recorded, and urine samples for cortisol analysis and video footage for behavior analysis were collected on the last day of each treatment. There were no leftovers with either diet, and nutrient uptake, BW, and backfat thickness were unaffected (p > 0.05). However, stereotypic behaviors and urinary cortisol concentrations were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) with CCS inclusion. Replacing 20% DM of the commercial diet with crimson clover silage presents an effective strategy for lowering feeding costs while also enhancing animal behavior and well-being.