The effect of feeding strategy during rearing in a commercial setting on gilt body condition, lactation performance and culling rate in modern sows nursing large litters

•Feeding strategy during rearing generated a large variation in body condition within both restrictively and semi ad libitum fed gilts.•Semi ad libitum fed gilts had a higher backfat thickness at first service compared to restrictively fed gilts.•Feeding strategy during rearing did not affect the overall performance during lactation or culling rate postweaning.•In a subsample of gilts, semi ad libitum fed gilts had a lower litter birth weight and a higher percentage of protein in milk in mid to late lactation compared to restrictively fed gilts.