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Creep-Feeding of Nursing Pigs

University of Illinois²

Abstract

The value of the pig creep for nursing pigs was studied in six experiments with 134 sows and their litters on pasture.

An average of the first three experiments showed that spring pigs creeps-fed a simple ration of shelled yellow corn and supplement (2 tankage, 1 soybean meal) made 12 percent faster daily gains and suffered fewer death losses than those not creep-fed when sows were fed a "poor ration" of ear corn (full-fed by hand twice daily) and minerals on rye pasture. The sows and litters in the creep-fed lot required 20 percent less feed per unit of gain than those in the no-creep lot.

In two comparisons (experiments 4 and 5) there was no significant advantage in creep-feeding pigs a mixed ration when the sows and litters were self-fed shelled yellow corn and supplement free-choice on rye pasture (spring) or brome-bluegrass pasture (fall). The daily consumption of the mixed creep-ration was so small (0.36 lb. per litter) that it would not have been expected to exert a significant effect.

In the sixth experiment, the sows and pigs were self-fed shelled yellow corn and supplement free-choice on Balbo rye pasture with alternate lots of pigs being offered shelled corn, broken oat kernels and supplement free-choice in a creep. During the test 9 percent of the pigs died in the no-creep lot while only 4 percent of the pigs died in the creep lot. A slight, but statistically insignificant, increase in gains was obtained by creep-feeding. The average creep-ration consisted of about 8 percent shelled yellow corn, 76 percent broken oat kernels and 16 percent supplement, and contained 21 percent crude protein. In the creep lot, 12.5 percent less feed was required per 100 pounds of net gain of sows and pigs.

¹ Present address American Dry Milk Institute, Inc., Chicago, Illinois.

² Animal Science Department, Urbana, Illinois. Acknowledgment is gratefully made for the assistance of L. D. Kerley, formerly agent cooperator of the U.S.D.A., T. A. King, J. L. Gobble and G. W. Sherritt, formerly Assistants in Animal Science, and of R. H. McDade, Chief Swine Herdsman, and his associates.