Abstract
The present study evaluated the optimal duration of creep feeding that improves the growth performance and fecal score of piglets and the performance and estrus interval of sows. Sixteen sows (Yorkshire × Landrace) and their litters were used in this 24-day trial. Dietary treatments were: Treatment 1, in which creep feed was not provided; treatment 2, in which creep feed was provided at the 7th day of life (day 7 to weaning); treatment 3, in which creep feed was provided at the 14th day of life (day 14 to weaning); and treatment 4, in which creep feed was provided at the 21st day of life (day 21 to weaning). There was no difference in body weight or loss, backfat thickness or loss, or estrus interval among treatments in the sows. Piglets in treatment 2 had higher body weight (BW) than pigs of treatments 1, 3, and 4. In addition, piglets in treatment 3 had higher BW than those of treatments 1 and 4. From birth to weaning, piglets of treatments 2 and 3 had higher average daily gain than those of treatments 1 and 4. There was no difference in fecal score of piglets among treatments. Piglets fed creep feed initiated from the first week have higher BW and average daily gain at weaning compared with those initiated from the second and third weeks, indicating that a longer duration of creep feeding improves the growth performance of piglets.
Highlights
The birth and weaning weights are critically important in the life of pigs because the weight of piglets at birth and weaning determines their post-weaning performance and the time needed to reach market weight (Mahan, 1993)
There was no difference in body weight (BW) or BW loss, backfat thickness or backfat loss, or estrus interval of sows among treatments (P>0.05; Table 2)
Heo et al (1999) demonstrated that a milk replacer feeding system utilized in the early suckling period can maximize pig growth performance and that average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake, and gain-to-feed ratio were affected by different ambient temperatures within milk replacer-fed pigs
Summary
The birth and weaning weights are critically important in the life of pigs because the weight of piglets at birth and weaning determines their post-weaning performance and the time needed to reach market weight (Mahan, 1993). In addition to sow feeding programs during lactation, piglet feeding programs such as milk replacers and creep feed have been used to increase weight during pre-weaning (Yan et al, 2011a, 2011b, 2011c). Creep feed has been used to fill the gap between the increasing nutrient requirements of suckling pigs and the nutrients supplied by the lactating sow and to adapt feedstuffs after weaning. It has been reported that creep feeding improves the post-weaning growth performance of piglets (Pajor et al, 1991; Yan et al, 2011b). Creep feeding influences reproductive performance of piglets, nutritional load, body weight (BW), as well as the weaning-to-estrus interval of lactating sows (Foxcroft, 1992)
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