Piglet growth before and after weaning in relation to a qualitative estimate of solid (creep) feed intake during lactation: A pilot study*

Abstract

The experimental objectives were to verify whether a qualitative measure of creep feed consumption using a dye was related to performance, and associate this with teat order. Indigo carmine (5 g/kg) was added to a starter diet between days 12 and 31 (weaning) of lactation. On days 19, 23, 27 and 31, faeces from each piglet were assessed for colouration. Each piglet was categorized as a 'good', 'moderate' or 'small/non' eater of feed. There were no differences in pre-weaning growth rate between categories. Piglets classed as 'good' or 'moderate' eaters in lactation grew fastest (p = 0.009) in the first three days after weaning, but between days 4 and 7, the highest growth rate occurred in 'moderate' eaters. 'Small/ non' eaters grew slower (p < 0.01) between weaning and 28 days after weaning. Piglets drinking milk from anterior teats were heavier at weaning (p < 0.001) and for the first 14 days after weaning (p = 0.104) compared to piglets sucking posterior teats. Data from this study demonstrated that creep feed intake of piglets could qualitatively be assessed using indigo carmine, and that this categorization was related to performance in the immediate post-weaning period.

Invited review: Aspects of gastrointestinal tract growth and maturation in the pre- and postweaning period of pigs

“…Data, therefore, generally support the notion that enhanced familiarity with solid food at weaning causes the weanling pig to focus more on feed intake and less on exploratory behavior (Bruininx et al, 2002). Other studies (e.g., Kuller et al, 2004Kuller et al, , 2007Pluske et al, 2007;Collins et al, 2013), in which pigs were categorized into eaters and noneaters of creep feed, have generally (Burrin and Stoll, 2003).…”

“…Nutrients in these forms are offered to piglets before weaning in an attempt to 1) increase daily weight gain at a time when the sows' proportional milk yield relative to piglets' demand for growth is declining and 2) prepare them for the transition to a (solid) diet after weaning. Creep feeding begins largely as an exploratory and social activity and then becomes more driven by nutrient demand as the pig matures in the fourth or fifth week of age (Pajor et al, 1991); however, it is well documented that creep feed consumption per litter varies immensely (e.g., English, 1981;Pajor et al, 1991;Pluske et al, 1995;Pluske et al, 2007). Furthermore, weaning age can influence intake before weaning, with van der Meulen et al (2010), for instance, finding that weaning at 7 wk of age (compared to 4 wk of age) in combination with creep feeding improved postweaning feed intake and reduced weaning stress but did not improve functional characteristics of the small intestinal mucosa such as plasma intestinal fatty acid binding protein (a marker for mild intestinal injury) concentrations, intestinal morphology, intestinal (macro)molecular permeability, and intestinal fluid absorption.…”

Teat order affects postweaning behaviour in piglets

“…While some studies report that larger piglets establish themselves on anterior teats (FRASER & JONES, 1975), other studies support the current results (PLUSKE et al, 2007;SKOK et al, 2007). Some explanations about the preference for anterior teats are that the piglets that choose these teats are attracted by the vocalization of the sow, even before checking the quantity of milk available (JEPPERSEN, 1982), or that choice or discovery of a certain teat occurs randomly; after that, the setting of a fixed order would occur because piglets which defend the first teat it has established it after birth (SCHEEL et al, 1977).…”

“…Within the same litter, the piglets which consume more solid food during lactation are usually the first ones to try to consume feed after weaning (SULABO et al, 2010). However, even though offering creep feed to piglets from their second week of life is a common practice, their consumption is low and too variable amongst the individuals of the same litter and amongst litters (PAJOR et al, 1991;PLUSKE et al, 2007).…”

“…Since the intake of solid food is low until around the 28 th day of age (PAJOR et al, 1991;PLUSKE et al, 2007), it can be concluded that the greater weight gain at weaning in piglets that suck on anterior teats is due to the fact that these piglets drink more milk. PLUSKE et al (2007) suggested that piglets that suck from anterior teats would be less motivated to seek other sources of food, ignoring the solid diet.…”