Two experiments were conducted using 3,087 (Exp. 1) and 988 (Exp. 2) pigs to determine the effect of gruel feeding (Exp. 1) and oral glucose (Exp. 2) on pig survivability after weaning. Upon arrival to the nursery, the smallest 10% of pigs were selected and randomly placed in designated pens with 61 to 108 pigs/pen. Pens of small pigs were assigned to 1 of 2 treatments in a completely randomized design. Treatment consisted of gruel feeding 2 or 4 times/day for 14-d post-placement. At each gruel feeding, approximately 1.13 kg of solid feed was added to a round Rotecna bowl (Rotecna S.A., Agramunt, Spain) located at the front of the pen. Water was added at a decreasing rate over time. From d 0 to 5, 6 to 10, and 11 to 14 the ratio of water to feed was 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3, respectively. In Exp. 2, every other pig removed from general population or pens of small pigs for welfare considerations received a single 10 mL oral dose of a 50% dextrose solution and were placed in sick/fallback pens. All removed pigs were tagged and blood glucose measured prior to and 30 min after entering sick/fallback pens. Overall, gruel feeding small pigs 2 or 4 times/day for 14-d post-placement did not influence (P > 0.10) mortality from weaning to the end of gruel feeding (3.78 vs 4.25%, respectively). Likewise, dextrose administration did not influence (P > 0.10) pig mortality after removal to approximately d 38 after weaning (21.4 vs 23.4% respectively), even though blood glucose increased (P < 0.001) in those administered dextrose (11.4 vs 19.1 mg/dL). In summary, gruel feeding 4 times/d or providing sick/fallback pigs glucose supplementation does not improve survivability of pigs after weaning. More research is needed using alternative protocols to understand the value of gruel feeding on pig survival post-weaning.

Two experiments were conducted in a 14,400 head nursery using 3,087 (Exp. 1) and 988 (Exp. 2) pigs to determine the effect of gruel feeding (Exp. 1) and supplemental oral dextrose (Exp. 2) on nursery pig survivability after weaning. Upon arrival to the nursery, for Exp. 1, the smallest 10% of pigs were selected and randomly placed in pens with 61 to 108 pigs per pen. Pens of small pigs were assigned to 1 of 2 treatments in a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of gruel feeding two or four times per day for 14-d post-placement. At each gruel feeding, approximately 1.13 kg of solid feed was added to a round bowl (Rotecna S.A., Agramunt, Spain) located at the front of each pen and water added at a decreasing rate over time. In Exp. 2, every other pig removed for welfare considerations (lameness, sick, or unthrifty) from the general population or pens of small pigs received a single 10 mL oral dose of a 50% dextrose solution (Vet One, MWI Animal Health, Boise, ID), as a source of glucose, before being placed in a removal pen. All removed pigs were tagged and weighed, body temperature recorded, and blood glucose concentration measured prior to and 30 min after entering removal pens. Overall, gruel feeding small pigs two or four times per day for 14-d post-placement did not influence (P > 0.10) mortality from weaning to the end of gruel feeding (3.78 vs 4.25%, respectively). Likewise, dextrose administration did not influence (P > 0.10) pig mortality after removal to approximately 38 d post-weaning (21.4 vs 23.4% respectively), even though blood glucose concentration increased (P < 0.001) 30 min after removal for pigs administered dextrose. An interaction was observed for blood glucose concentration and body temperature (P < 0.001) where pigs with blood glucose concentrations less than 70 mg/dL had increased mortality as body temperature increased. In contrast, pigs with a blood glucose concentration of 70 mg/dL or greater had decreased mortality as body temperature increased. Pigs weighing less than 4.5 kg also had increased mortality (P < 0.001) compared with pigs weighing greater than or equal to 4.5 kg at removal. In summary, gruel feeding four times per day vs two times per day or providing a dextrose supplement to pigs removed from the general population did not improve the survivability of pigs after weaning. Additionally, pigs removed with decreased body weight or with body temperature or blood glucose concentrations below or above the normal range had decreased survivability.