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The Effect of Diet on Performance, Digestibility, Blood Composition and Intestinal Microflora of Weaned Pigs

University of Georgia, Athens 30602

Abstract

Good evaluation variables are needed to study postweaning lag in early weaned pigs. In this study, performance, digestibility, concentration of blood components and aerobic fecal microflora under different dietary regimens from weaning at 3 wk of age to 3 5 d of age are reported. Treatment 1 (T1) consisted of a corn-soybean meal starter diet. Pigs in treatment 2 (T2) received a steamed, rolled oat groats-casein starter diet. Pigs in treatment 1 and 2 were weaned at 3 wk of age while those in treatment 3 remained with the sow. Treatment 1 pigs had lower average daily gains for the 2-wk trial as compared with T2 pigs (P<.05). Three of the four animals consuming the corn-soybean meal diet were observed to have diarrhea during die experiment as compared with an occasional loose stool from die pigs fed oats-casein. There were no significant differences in digestibility of dry matter, crude protein or ether extract among pigs in T1 and T2. Digestibilities of ash and crude fiber were higher (P<.05) in T1 pigs, while there was an increase (P<.05) in digestibility of N-free extract by pigs in T2. Serum protein, Na, CO₂ and blood hematocrit were not significantly different among treatments. Blood chloride was higher, whereas glucose was lower for pigs in T1 and T2 than T3 (P<.05). Blood urea N was higher for pigs in T1 as compared with pigs in T2 or T3. Potassium was higher (P<.05) for pigs in Tl as compared with those in T2 or T3. There were no treatment differences in total bacteria, coliform or yeast and molds before weaning at 21 d of age. Postweaning bacteria counts for T3 pigs were lower (P<.05) than for T1 or T2 pigs. There was a significant treatment x time interaction due to the low bacterial counts (P<.05) in the fecal material from pigs that remained with the sow. Coliforms decreased in all treated pigs by 7 d postweaning and remained low throughout the remainder of the experiment. Total coliforms were lower (P<.05) in pigs remaining with the sow as compared with T1 or T2 pigs. There was a 100-fold increase in total yeast and molds approximately 10 d after weaning of pigs in all treatments. Dietary differences were reflected in performance, digestibility studies, blood evaluation and intestinal microflora. This experiment illustrates the use of blood and fecal analyses to study diet and diarrhea.

¹ Dept. of Anim. and Dairy Sci.

² Dept. of Poul. Sci.

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