Forty crossbreed sows (¹/2Landrace, ¹/4Large White, ¹/4Pietran) with average weight of 188,2 ± 18,81 kg at fourth and/or fifth reproductive cycles, in a total of 75 childbirths, were used to evaluate different crude protein (CP) levels in the gestation diet. It was used a completely randomized design, with five treatments (rations with 10,0; 11,5; 13,0; 14,5 e 16,0% of CP), fifteen replicates and being each childbirth an experimental unit. Sow gain was not affected by the CP levels in gestation diet. The pig weight and number of pigs born alive, the litter born weight and mortality were not affected by the treatments. The levels of CP in gestation diet did not influence the weight gain of the sow at lactation. The number of weaned pigs, pig average weight at weaning and pig weight gain were not affected by the CP levels in the gestation diet. It is concluded, based in the energy efficiency, that the requirement of CP for pluriparous sows, at fourth and fifth reproductive cycles, in the gestation phase is 11.5%, corresponds to a daily consumption of 207 g of protein and 10.5 g of lysine.
estrus; litter; mortality; nursing; nutrition; weaning
