Preweaning survival and growth are compromised in litters with larger numbers of piglets. We evaluated two approaches for altering initial nursing with the goal to improve access to colostrum by groups of piglets that are known to have reduced access to colostrum. Therefore, we temporarily (1.5 h) removed either the heaviest six piglets in the litter (WT) or the first half of the piglets born (ORD) to provide a short period of nursing with reduced competition for the remaining piglets. We found that WT piglets were heavier (P ≤ 0.05) at 7 d after farrowing and gained more body weight (BW) from farrowing to day 7 than control (CON) piglets which were raised in litters with ad libitum nursing during the same period. Further, we found that the heaviest piglets consumed more (P < 0.001) colostrum and gained more (P < 0.001) BW during the preweaning period but did not have (P > 0.10) greater immunocrits. Although ORD piglets had similar colostrum intake, immunocrits, and preweaning weights as controls, we found that overall the piglets born in the first half of litters had greater (P < 0.01) immunocrits than piglets born in the last half of the litter. Therefore, both birth weight and birth order have effects on traits that are important for prenatal growth and survival, but they differ in that birth weight is more closely related to colostrum intake and birth order affects immunocrit.
A total of 280 weaned pigs (Line 600 × 241; DNA, Columbus, NE; initially 11.4 lb) were used in a 35-d study to compare the effects of feeding growth promoting alternatives (added trace minerals, copper and zinc, or essential oils (Victus LIV; DSM Nutritional Products, Parsippany, NJ), alone or in combination, on nursery pig performance in comparison to Carbadox, (Mecadox, Phibro Animal Health, Teaneck, NJ). Pigs were allotted to 1 of 7 dietary treatments in pens of 5 at weaning in a randomized complete block design with 8 replications per treatment. Dietary treatments were arranged with a negative control diet with no growth promoting feed additive, a positive control with added carbadox or 5 treatments including added copper (Cu) sulfate (CuSO 4 ; 0 vs. 125 ppm Cu) and added zinc (Zn) oxide (ZnO; 0 vs. 3,000 ppm Zn from d 0 to 7 and 2,000 ppm Zn from d 7 to 35), essential oils from Victus LIV at either 0.29 lb/ton (145 ppm) or 0.86 lb/ton (435 ppm). These supplements were fed alone or in combination. From d 0 to 35 experimental diets were fed in a meal form. Feeding carbadox, essential oil at 145 ppm or added trace minerals (Cu and Zn) improved ADG (P < 0.05) of nursery pigs compared to the negative control diet. The use of added Cu and Zn or 145 ppm of Victus LIV alone or in combination sustained ADG and F/G that was competitive with pigs fed carbadox. In summary, under the conditions of this experiment, pigs fed the combination of zinc and copper or 145 ppm Victus LIV had growth performance similar to those fed carbadox (P > 0.05).
Thirty sows (DNA Line 241, n = 10/treatment) and litters (sired by Line 600, pigs n = 412) were used to determine the effects of split suckling on immunocrit, colostrum intake, and growth of low birth weight pigs and pigs that farrow last in the birth order. Three treatments were used 1) control, all pigs suckled ad libitum; 2) weight based, the heaviest 6 pigs were removed for 1.5 h; or 3) birth order based, the first half of the litter was removed for 1.5 h. Over all litters, heavier pigs at birth had greater (P < 0.01) colostrum intake and pigs born in the last half of the litter had lower (P < 0.01) immunocrits (a measure of circulating immunoglobulins) than pigs born in the first half of the litter. Removing the heaviest 6 pigs for 1.5 h beginning 6 h after farrowing resulted in increased (P < 0.05) weight gain by d 7. A tendency (P = 0.15) for treatment × birth order interactions suggests that split suckling increased colostrum intake for the later born pigs. http://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol3/iss7/7 Swine Day 2017 K A N S A S STAT E UNI VE R S IT Y 2017Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service SummaryThirty sows (DNA Line 241, n = 10/treatment) and litters (sired by Line 600, pigs n = 412) were used to determine the effects of split suckling on immunocrit, colostrum intake, and growth of low birth weight pigs and pigs that farrow last in the birth order. Three treatments were used 1) control, all pigs suckled ad libitum; 2) weight based, the heaviest 6 pigs were removed for 1.5 h; or 3) birth order based, the first half of the litter was removed for 1.5 h. Over all litters, heavier pigs at birth had greater (P < 0.01) colostrum intake and pigs born in the last half of the litter had lower (P < 0.01) immunocrits (a measure of circulating immunoglobulins) than pigs born in the first half of the litter. Removing the heaviest 6 pigs for 1.5 h beginning 6 h after farrowing resulted in increased (P < 0.05) weight gain by d 7. A tendency (P = 0.15) for treatment × birth order interactions suggests that split suckling increased colostrum intake for the later born pigs.
. Brand names appearing in this publication are for product identification purposes only. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Recommended CitationThayer, M. T.; Langemeier, A.; Scotten, S.; Nelssen, J. L.;
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