HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kuller, W. I. Articles by Kemp, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kuller, W. I. Articles by Kemp, B.

Intermittent suckling: Effects on piglet and sow performance before and after weaning¹

W. I. Kuller^*,2, N. M. Soede, H. M. G. van Beers-Schreurs^*, P. Langendijk, M. A. M. Taverne^*, J. H. M. Verheijden^* and B. Kemp

^* Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University,3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands; and and Animal Health and Reproduction Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Science, Wageningen University and Research Centre,6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands

² Correspondence—phone: +31 30 2531820; fax: +31 30 2521887; e-mail: w.i.kuller{at}vet.uu.nl.

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study effects of intermittent suckling on creep feed intake and weight gain of litters. Loss of weight and backfat during lactation, as well as reproductive performance, were also measured. Batches of multiparous sows (Parity 1 to 12, 4.1 on average) were either suckled intermittently (IS, eight batches; n = 50) or continuously (control, eight batches; n = 62). Litters were weaned at 27 ± 2 d of age, on average. Litter size (11.1 ± 0.2 piglets, on average) was standardized within a batch within 3 d of birth. All litters had free access to creep feed and water from 1 wk of age onward. In the IS group, litters were separated from the sow for a period of 12 h/d (0930 to 2130), starting 11 d before weaning. Rectal ultrasonography was applied at d 3 after weaning to check the ovaries for follicle development or presence of corpora lutea. Creep feed intake by the litters during lactation was higher in IS litters than in control litters (686 ± 57 vs. 314 ± 42 g/piglet, P < 0.01). The distribution of creep feed intake shifted from a skewed one, with a majority of litters consuming less than 250 g/piglet in control litters, to a normal distribution, with an average creep feed intake of 500 to 750 g/piglet in IS litters. During the 7 d after weaning, creep feed intake in IS litters was also higher (281 ± 15 vs. 204 ± 9 g•piglet^-1•d^-1, P < 0.01). The ADG of piglets during lactation was negatively affected by IS, resulting in lower weight at weaning (7,229 ± 140 vs. 7,893 ± 145 g/piglet, P < 0.05). During the 7 d after weaning, however, ADG was higher in IS litters (255 ± 10 vs. 177 ± 8 g•piglet^-1•d^-1, P < 0.01), and 7 d after weaning, the weights of the litters were similar (9,011 ± 167 vs. 9,132 ± 164 g/piglet, P = 0.81). The IS litters that consumed little or no feed during lactation had an ADG after lactation that was higher than in control litters, with comparable creep feed intake during lactation: 204 vs. 136 g/d. Body weight loss by the sows during lactation was lower in IS sows (-10 ± 2 vs. -16 ± 1 kg, P < 0.05). A higher percentage of IS sows ovulated during lactation (22 vs. 3%, P < 0.01), and weaning-to-ovulation interval (excluding sows with lactational ovulation) was shorter in IS sows (4.7 ± 0.2 vs. 5.3 ± 0.2 d, P < 0.05). We conclude that IS increased creep feed intake during lactation, and that IS increased ADG after weaning, despite lower weaning weights. Ovulation during lactation was induced in 22% of the IS sows.

Key Words: Feed intake • Growth • Pig • Reproductive Performance • Sow • Suckling

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Berkeveld, P. Langendijk, J. E. Bolhuis, A. P. Koets, J. H. M. Verheijden, and M. A. M. Taverne Intermittent suckling during an extended lactation period: Effects on piglet behavior J Anim Sci, December 1, 2007; 85(12): 3415 - 3424. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. I. Kuller, N. M. Soede, H. M. G. van Beers-Schreurs, P. Langendijk, M. A. M. Taverne, B. Kemp, and J. H. M. Verheijden Effects of intermittent suckling and creep feed intake on pig performance from birth to slaughter J Anim Sci, May 1, 2007; 85(5): 1295 - 1301. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Berkeveld, P. Langendijk, H. M. G. van Beers-Schreurs, A. P. Koets, M. A. M. Taverne, and J. H. M. Verheijden Postweaning growth check in pigs is markedly reduced by intermittent suckling and extended lactation J Anim Sci, January 1, 2007; 85(1): 258 - 266. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]