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ARTICLE |
1 Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
2 Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
3 Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands; Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: w.i.kuller{at}vet.uu.nl.
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Abstract |
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An experiment was conducted to determine if the improved creep feed intake observed during intermittent suckling is of major importance for post-weaning performance. Therefore, creep feed intake of litters was assessed and, within litters, eaters and non-eaters were distinguished using chromic oxide. Batches of sows were either suckled intermittently (IS, 7 batches; n = 31) or continuously (control (C), 7 batches; n = 31). 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. Litters were weaned at 4 wk of age. Litters had free access to creep feed from 1 wk of age onwards. Five days after weaning, piglets were moved as a litter to weanling pens. At 8 wk of age, 2 barrows and 2 gilts were randomly chosen from each litter and moved to a finishing facility. Feed intake was improved by IS during the last 11 d of lactation (IS: 284 ± 27 vs. C: 83 ± 28 g/piglet; P < 0.001) and after weaning during both the first (IS: 201 ± 24 vs. C: 157 ± 25 g· piglet-1· d-1; P < 0.05) and second wk (IS: 667 ± 33 vs. C: 570 ± 35 g· piglet-1· d-1; P < 0.05). Thereafter, no differences were found to slaughter. Weaning BW was lower in IS litters (IS: 7.1 ± 0.01 vs. C: 8.1 ± 0.01 kg/piglet; P < 0.05), but 7 d after weaning BW was similar (IS: 8.5 ± 0.2 vs. C: 8.7 ± 0.2 kg/piglet; P = 0.18) and no differences were found to slaughter. The percentage of eaters within a litter was not increased by IS during lactation (IS: 23 ± 4.5 % vs. C: 19 ± 4.1 %; P = 0.15). Weaning BW did not differ between eaters and non-eaters (eater: 7.7 ± 0.1 vs. non-eater: 7.5 ± 0.08 kg/piglet; P = 0.63). From 1 until 4 wk after weaning, piglets that were eaters during lactation had heavier BW than non-eaters (eater: 20.3 ± 0.3 kg vs. non-eater: 18.2 ± 0.2 kg; P < 0.05). The influence of eating creep feed during lactation on BW and gain and the influence of suckling treatment never showed an interaction. We conclude that IS increases ADFI during lactation on a litter level and improves ADG in the first and ADFI in the first and second week after weaning. No long- term effects on ADFI or ADG were observed throughout the finishing period. In the current experiment, in which creep feed intake was low, the percentage of eaters within a litter was not increased, suggesting that creep feed intake of piglets that were already eating was stimulated by IS. Further, piglets that were eaters during lactation had heavier BW up to 4 wk after weaning.
Key Words: creep feed, feed intake, growth, performance, pig, weaning
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  M. Berkeveld, P. Langendijk, N. M. Soede, B. Kemp, M. A. M. Taverne, J. H. M. Verheijden, N. Kuijken, and A. P. Koets Improving adaptation to weaning: Effect of intermittent suckling regimens on piglet feed intake, growth, and gut characteristics J Anim Sci, October 1, 2009; 87(10): 3156 - 3166. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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