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The influence of nutritional and management factors on piglet weight gain to weaning in a commercial herd in Denmark |
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| Authors: | J Callesen D Halas F Thorup KE Bach Knudsen JC Kim BP Mullan RH Wilson JR Pluske |
| Institution: | aDanish Pig Production, DMA, Axeltorv 3, DK-1707 Copenhagen, Denmark bSchool of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia cDanish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Research Centre Foulum, PO Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark dAnimal Research and Development, Department of Agriculture and Food, Locked Bag 4, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA, 6983, Australia eWandalup Farms, PO Box 642, Mandurah, WA, 6210, Australia |
| Abstract: | The effects of weaning age, type of creep diet and the classification of piglets as ‘eaters’ or ‘non eaters’ of creep feed on weight gain to weaning were examined. Four antimicrobial-free diets were offered from day 14 of lactation: (i) wheat-soy based diet with animal and vegetable (‘mixed’) protein sources (COMM), (ii) heat-processed rice (HPR) with barley hulls and potato starch and mixed protein sources (RBPS), (iii) HPR with sugar-beet pulp and mixed protein sources (RSBP), and (iv) HPR with mixed protein sources (R). Pigs were weaned at an average of either 27 (early) or 33 (late) days of age. A dye (indigo carmine) was added to each diet at day 24 of lactation in both groups to classify piglets as ‘eaters’ or ‘non eaters’ of creep feed, based on appearance or non-appearance, respectively, of dye in faeces. Pigs weaned late weighed 1.4 kg more (P < 0.001). Weaning age interacted with diet type and eating classification for weaning weight (P < 0.001). Of the 1067 piglets where classification of the faecal dye was possible, 829 (77.7%) were ‘eaters’ and 238 (22.3%) were ‘non eaters’. This qualitative estimate of creep feed consumption did not influence weight gain to weaning (P > 0.05). |
| Keywords: | Dietary composition Weaning age Creep feed |
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