Effect of creep feed intake on weaning weight of piglets

Abstract

The benefits of creep feeding in a 3 - 4 week weaning system is uncertain. Sow milk yield peaks at 3 - 4 weeks postpartum and the need for supplementary feed to maintain growth rates of suckling pigs is minimal. The objective of this study was to quantify creep feed intake by suckling pigs and to assess the effect of creep feeding on piglet growth and weight at weaning when weaned at 26.0 (s.e. 0.6) days of age.The results reported here were obtained by combining data from 296 litters of suckling pigs on 5 creep feeding trials. The five trials involved comparison of diets and management systems as follows: (A) effect of quality of creep feed (high quality starter diet vs medium quality starter diet vs a pelleted cooked cereal); (B) comparison of meal and pelleted diets; (C) the effect of form (reconstituted calf milk replacer - 20 % dry matter vs solid pellet vs peat primer offered with a solid pellet); (D) effect of feed freshness (fresh creep vs 30 day old creep vs 60 day old creep feed); (E) effect of creep feeding piglets on pre-weaning performance.