The feeding strategy around peri-partum is important to ensure the productivity of the sow, and the growth of her litter. Late gestation feeding generally involves supplying the sow’s increase demands, but there are various studies on whether increasing energy intake or amino acids are more important, or if feed intake in general should be increased. An alternative approach is to decrease feed in late gestation, as high feed intake during this time may decrease lactation feed intake. Generally immediately before farrowing and during farrowing a sow will not eat, but if the day she will farrow is not known she producers will usually still give the full feed amount. The sow may have a dip in feed intake during early lactation, and producers can either feed ad libitum or restricted during this time. If restrictive feeding is used, the amount of feed supplied should increase quickly over the next few days. The NCERA-219 committee conducted a study on gradually decreasing late gestation feed allowance to promote lactation feed intake. Three treatments were run: 2.0kg throughout gestation (control), 1.8 to start and then 2.7 kg after day 85 (step-up), or 1.8kg to start, 2.7kg day 75-108, and then decreased to 0.9kg (step-down). The results showed no difference in early lactation feed intake, number born alive, stillborns, percent surviving lactation, litter birth weight, or preweaning gains. The stepdown sows had a tendency to have fewer born alive for the following litter. The feeding treatment affected sow body weight, but had no effect on lactation or litter performance.