Development of Practical Synthetic Milk Formulas for Baby Pigs

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to develop a practical synthetic sow-milk substitute and to study its performance under experimental farm conditions. In the apparent absence of disease, it was possible to raise 14 pigs, which had not received colostrum, on a vitamin, mineral and antibiotic fortified dried skimmed milk ration including lard. The addition of casein did not improve growth but without lard the pigs died. After an outbreak of transmissible gastroenteritis in the second experiment, it was impossible to raise pigs without colostrum. Six lots of 10 pigs raised from 2 days of age in concrete-floored pens indicated that 56-day weights were not reduced by discontinuing milk feeding at 5 weeks as compared with 7 weeks of age. In a third experiment, twenty lots of 5 pigs each were raised successfully from 3 days of age in radiant-heated, concrete-floored pens. Of the 10, 20 and 30 percent fat levels, the lowest level produced the best growth. A level of 15 percent solids was superior to 20 or 25 percent for growth, feed efficiency and physical reconstitution. When fed at equal levels, a combination of terramycin, streptomycin, penicillin and rimocidin gave no better results than terramycin alone. The inclusion of 10 percent condensed fish solubles failed to improve performance. Doubling the vitamin fortification did not improve gains or feed efficiency. This would indicate that sufficient vitamin fortification was provided in the basal synthetic milk and that the vitamins were sufficiently stable in the milk solids and in the reconstituted milk. The 97 pigs raised averaged 49.8 pounds at approximately 8 weeks of age and consumed an average of 22 pounds of milk solids and 60 pounds of pig starter to this age. Post-weaning performance of the pigs fed synthetic milk was satisfactory. The results of these experiments indicate baby pigs can be raised successfully from 2 to 3 days of age in concrete-floored pens on synthetic milk rations composed of dried skimmed milk, lard, essential minerals, vitamins and antibiotics.