Effects of Creep Feed and Milk Replacer and Nursery Phase-feeding Programs on Pre- and Post-weaning Growth of Pigs

Abstract

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of pre-and post-weaning feeding programs on growth of pigs. A total of 24 litters (avg. 10.6 piglets/litter) born from multiparous (Yorkshire × Landrace) dams × Duroc sires were provided with neither creep feed (CF) nor milk replacer ("CON"), 200 gm CF/litter/d from the 15th day of lactation ("MIN"), or CF and milk replacer ad libitum for 7 h during the daytime from the 7th day ("MAX") through weaning at d 21 of age. Sixty-eight weanling pigs selected randomly from each of CON and MIN were provided with phases 1, 2 and 3 nursery diets for 7, 14, and 13 days, respectively, in two pens; an equal number of piglets from MAX received the same diets for 6, 10, and 18 days, respectively. Subsequently, all pigs were fed grower 1 and 2 diets sequentially up to d 95 and 135, respectively. The entire pre-and post-weaning feeding trial was repeated three times under a split-plot design of experiment. Initial and final weights and ADG of the suckling pigs did not differ between MAX/MIN and CON. However, final wt of MAX adjusted for initial wt, which was 0.17-kg less in MAX than in CON, was greater than that of CON by 0.31kg, whereas the difference between MIN and CON in final wt barely changed after the adjustment. Growth of the animals during the nursery and growing phases was not affected by the feeding program, whereas d 55 and 135 BW, as well as d 6 BW, were highly correlated with weaning weight (r=0.81, 0.57, and 0.76; P<0.001, <0.05, and <0.001, respectively). In conclusion, results suggest that provision of creep feed and milk replacer from early lactation may be effective for increasing weight gain of light piglets, but that limited provision of creep feed during late lactation or extension of the duration of phases 1 and 2 vs. 3 nursery diets for several days is unlikely to influence the growth of pigs during the corresponding and subsequent periods.

Effects of milk replacer and starter diet provided as creep feed for suckling pigs on pre‐ and post‐weaning growth

“…1, which was consistent with previously reported results (Pajor et al 1991;Callesen et al 2007;Sulabo et al 2010a, b;Ha et al 2011). 1, which was consistent with previously reported results (Pajor et al 1991;Callesen et al 2007;Sulabo et al 2010a, b;Ha et al 2011).…”

“…Neither ad libitum nor restricted provision of the solid creep feed influenced pre-or post-weaning pig growth in Exp. 1, which was consistent with previously reported results (Pajor et al 1991;Callesen et al 2007;Sulabo et al 2010a, b;Ha et al 2011). Moreover, previous milk replacer feeding did not influence ADG during the grow-finish phase or entire post-weaning period in either Exp.…”

“…Each litter received a commercial liquid milk replacer ad libitum, phase 1 nursery diet ad libitum (Table 1), 100 g of the phase 1 nursery diet, or no supplementation between 08.00 and 16.00 hours every day as previously described (Ha et al 2011). Piglets were weighed at day 4 of lactation and at day 21 at the time of weaning.…”

“…At day 61 of age or day 0 of the growing-finishing phase 7 days after the movement, zero to four contemporary nonexperimental 'filler pigs' were allocated to each pen to equalize the space allowance per animal (1.15 m 2 ) across the pens. The animals received three commercial diets sequentially for the early-, mid-and late growing-finishing phases during days 54-96, 96-133 and 133-162 (Table 1), respectively, as previously described (Ha et al 2011).…”

Providing supplementary, artificial milk for large litters during lactation: effects on performance and health of sows and piglets: a case study

“…As the use of nurse sows involves disruption of batch farrowing and the possibility of vertical disease transmission, this practice may not always be favourable. The provision of appropriately formulated liquid milk supplements via automatic milk dispensers may increase nutrient intake and weight gain [8]. In this article, we report on a practical on-farm test on litters with and without supplemented milk via cups directly in the farrowing pens, and possible impacts on sows’ and piglets’ health and performance.…”