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Rearing Neonatal Piglets of Low Birth Weight with an Automatic Feeding Device^{1, 2,}

North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27607

Abstract

Experiments were designed to determine whether it was possible to rear with an automatic feeding device piglets of a character previously shown to be prone to early death. These disadvantaged piglets generally weigh less than 1,000 g at birth. In these experiments, piglets that weighed less than 1,000 g at birth and at 36 hr. of age were judged unlikely to survive were removed from their dam to the automatic device for rearing. This disadvantaged group was compared with a control group of piglets weighing more than 1,000 g at birth and seemingly well-nourished when placed in the automatic feeding device at 36 hr. of age. Eighty-three percent of the disadvantaged piglets survived. Loss of weight and lack of serum protein changes indicated that those disadvantaged piglets that died (17%) consumed little or no colostrum during the first 36 hr. of life in contrast to the disadvantaged piglets that lived. The control piglets apparently nursed more than the disadvantaged that lived, but their percent weight gain and gain/feed during the subsequent experimental period were no greater. Both groups tripled their birth weights by 2 weeks of age and had feed/gain ratios of approximately 0.6 to 0.7 g dry matter/g gain. When care was taken to assure each piglet an ample intake of colostrum from an unsuckled teat, the piglets' serum immunoglobulins peaked during the first 12 hr. of nursing. These results indicate that piglets should be removed to the automatic feeding device earlier than 36 hr. after birth.

¹ Paper No. 3283, of the Journal Series of the North Carolina State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh.

² Autosow.

³ Supported in part by Grant from CSRS No. 916-15-32, U.S.D.A., Cooperative State Research Service. Thanks are due to Mr. Edward Dorsey, Mrs. Quincy Justice and Miss Mary Hardenburg for technical assistance. Messrs. Richard White, Charles Barber, J. A. Jones and David Proctor and D'rs. A. J. Clawson, O. W. Robison are gratefully acknowledged for their help in supplying the experimental animals.