Effect of Creep Feeding on Pre and Post-Weaning Performance of Black Bengal Goat Kids

A 23 factorial arrangement of treatments was utilized to determine the effect of breed, creep feeding and monensin on subsequent reproductive performance and lactation of 32 primiparous heifers. One-half of each breed (Angus and Hereford) group had access to creep feed (2.67 Mcal metabolizable energy/kg) while nursing their dams. Approximately 40 d before breeding through 120 d of lactation, all heifers were fed a suboptimal energy diet and 50% of each breed and creep group received 200 mg monensin/head daily. Estrus was synchronized with a progestogen. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) were determined periodically throughout the monensin-feeding portion of the experiment. Twenty-four hour milk production, percentage butterfat and percentage solids-not-fat were determined at 60 and 120 d postpartum. Weaning weights (adjusted to 205 d and for age of dam) of the original heifers were heavier (P less than .05) for those that were creep fed compared with those not creep fed (219 vs 202 kg). Monensin-supplemented females gained significantly more weight from the initiation of treatment to immediately postcalving and gave birth to heavier calves (P less than .05) even though they received comparable amounts of dietary energy as those that did not receive monensin. The energy stressed, monensin-supplemented first-calf heifers exhibited a shorter postpartum interval (P less than .05) to first estrus than did those that did not receive monensin (55.7 vs 69.1 d, respectively). First-calf heifers that had been creep fed while nursing their dams had a lower (P less than .05) daily milk yield at 120 d post-partum than those that did not have access to creep feed. No detrimental effects were observed due to long-term monensin supplementation.

This study assessed the effect of a thermo-insulated kid barrel (KB) on the behavioral, physiological, and morphometric growth performance of winter-born Black Bengal goat kids. Two groups were studied: one group was housed in a goat shed without a thermo-insulated kid barrel (control group), while the other group was housed in a shed with a thermo-insulated kid barrel (kid barrel group). Each group consisted of six kids along with their mothers. Due to the lack of independent replication, the results are presented descriptively. During the winter, microclimatic conditions inside the KB were consistently warmer than those in the goat shed. Kids in the kid barrel group spent 60% of their time inside the KB during the pre-weaning period. Morphometric traits of the kids were better in the kid barrel group compared to the control group during both pre- and post-weaning periods. Additionally, post-weaning feed intake was higher in the kid barrel group. In conclusion, providing a thermo-insulated kid barrel as an ancillary housing structure during winter improved the overall performance of goat kids..

This study evaluated the effects of early-life creep feeding with a high-protein, high-energy diet on growth performance, ruminal fermentation, and gut microbiota in Hanwoo calves (n = 10). Calves were assigned to control or treatment groups from birth to 6 months of age. No significant differences were observed in body weight, average daily gain (ADG), or feed conversion ratio (FCR), but ADG and dry matter intake (DMI) tended to be higher in the treatment group. Ruminal pH, NH3-N, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations showed no significant differences. Fecal VFA profiles exhibited numerical trends suggesting higher propionate at 3 months and lower acetate, butyrate, and total VFA at 6 months in the treatment group, potentially reflecting altered substrate availability or absorption capacity, though these mechanisms were not directly measured. Microbiota analysis indicated stable ruminal alpha diversity, with numerical increases in fecal Bacteroidetes and genera such as Fournierella and Flavonifractor in the treatment group. These results suggest that early creep feeding with high-nutrition diets can support intake and promote potential shifts in hindgut microbiota composition without compromising overall microbial stability. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these trends and assess long-term impacts on calf health and productivity.

Weaning is stressful for goat kids, often leading to stunted growth, weight loss, and mortality, with varied weaning times reducing overall productivity and profitability. The aim of this research was to determine the optimal age for weaning of Black Bengal goat (BBG) kids and evaluate the impact of weaning stress on their post weaning performances. A trial was conducted comprising four groups of eight kids each, accompanied by four lactating does, weaned at intervals of 45, 60, 75, and 90 days (designated as A, B, C, and D, respectively), and reared up to six months of age. Heart rate measurements and blood samples were taken three days before (-3), during (0), and three days after (+3) individual weaning schedules. Furthermore, dry matter intake, daily weight gain, weaning weight, 06 months weight, disease incidence, and kid mortality were also recorded. The serum concentration of triiodothyronine(T3) hormone declined significantly (p<0.05) at +3 days after weaning than - 3 days before weaning in group A, B and C while an increase was observed in group D. The average cortisol level was significantly (p< 0.05) lower in group D than other groups. Post weaning performances, including weaning weight, 06 months weight, daily weight gain and kid mortality also differ significantly (p<0.05), group D demonstrating superior performance compared to group A, B and C. The findings revealed that, kids weaned at 75 to 90 days experienced less stress, performed better, and had fewer health issues.

Creep feeding and its possible interactions with other influential factors (genetics, litter type, and sex) for weaning traits were studied in meat goat kids and their dams. Kids across 3 yr were creep fed (254 kids; 5 pens) or not creep fed (255 kids; 5 pens) from 30 to 90 d of age. Creep-fed kids had higher (P ≤ 0.05) preweaning average daily weight gain and weaning weights (113.1 ± 13.0 g/d; 15.0 ± 0.8 kg) than kids not creep fed (99.8 ± 13.1 g/d; 14.0 ± 0.8 kg). However, financial returns were not higher (P > 0.05) for creep-fed kids compared with kids not creep fed. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in kid conformation score or survival rates between the treatment groups. The only important interaction among kid traits was treatment × litter type (P < 0.05) for FAMACHA scores. Within noncreep pens, single kids had lower (better; P < 0.05) FAMACHA scores (2.9 ± 0.3) than twin kids (3.9 ± 0.3). There was no litter-type effect on FAMACHA scores for kids within the creep feed pens. Dams of the creep-fed (n = 175) and noncreep (n = 178) kids were also evaluated. Treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) litter weights, dam weight change, gross revenue for weaned litters, or fecal egg counts. Treatment interacted with litter type (P < 0.05) to effect packed cell volume (PCV). In the noncreep group, dams raising singles had higher (better; P < 0.05) PCV (18.7 ± 1.3%) than dams rearing twin kids (15.7 ± 1.3%). The litter-type effect on dam PCV was not evident (P > 0.05) in the creep-fed group. Creep feeding improved some kid growth traits but did not improve dam traits or financial returns. Interactions of creep treatment with other factors were minimal for doe-kid traits.

The provision of creep feed to suckling pigs is considered to stimulate early food intake as well as health post weaning. However, Barnett et al. (1989) found no effects of creep feeding on post-weaning performance. Research by Pajor et al. (1986) indicated that there is a high variability in creep feed intake both among and within litters. This variability in creep feed intake is probably the main cause of disagreement on the effects of creep feed provision. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of creep feed consumption on individual food intake characteristics and performance of group-housed weaned pigs. Chromic oxide was added to the creep feed to identify piglets that consumed food during the suckling period. In the piggery, IVOG®-feeding stations were used to measure individual food intake after weaning.

Comparative performance of Awassi lambs and Black goat kids on different crude protein levels in Jordan

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.

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of creep feeding on productive and reproductive performance of BLRI improved Non-descript Deshi (ND) chicken and their chick’s growth up to 8th week of age under semi-scavenging conditions at three different locations of Bangladesh. Two groups of farmers were selected from each location having the BLRI improved ND birds where one group used creep feeder and followed improved management practices, called creep feeding (CF) group. Another group of farmers rear ND chicken traditionally without using creep feeder, termed as non-creep feeding group (NCF) or control group. In CF trial, feeding groups had significant effects on hen weight loss during incubation, resume of laying, clutch size and clutch length (p0.05) between the groups but higher in CF group than the NCF group as 82 and 76%, and 76 and 70%, respectively. Notably, the 8th week chick weight was 200g more in CF group than NCF group and the mortality was significantly (p

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing barley and soybean meal in finishing diets with sesame hull (SH) on growth performance, digestibility, and carcass characteristics of Black goat kids. Twenty-one Black goat kids were assigned randomly to 0%, 10%, or 20% SH diets (7/diet). The study lasted for 63 d. Intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) of kids fed the 10% diet were greater (p

This study was conducted to investigate if calvessupplemented with rice bran in a creep feeding (CF)system associated with temporary weaning (TW) affects the performance of the cow-calf pair grazing natural grasslands during summer. Two experiments were performedusing 275 cow-calf pairs of British breeds and their crosses of different parities (primiparous [n = 188]in Experiment 1 and multiparous [n = 87] in Experiment 2). In both experiments, the factors evaluated were: (1) supplementation of calves with rice bran using CF: yes (+CF) or no (-CF); (2) TW for 14 days using nose plates: yes (+TW) or no (-TW). Four experimental groups were formed in both experiments: -CF - TW, -CF + TW,+CF - TWand +CF + TW. TW decreased the average daily weight gain and live weight of calves independently of the age of their mothers. The use of CF decreased both of these parameters in calves born to primiparous cows, and there was no response in the case of calves born to multiparous cows. A greater proportion of primiparous cows that received +CF conceived in the first 21 days of mating (+CF - TW = 63.5% and +CF + TW = 50%) than the other groups. The final pregnancy rate was similar among groups in both experiments. In conclusion, TW decreased the average daily weight gain and weaning weight of calves. Supplementation of calves born to primiparous cows with rice bran decreased their daily weight gain during the period of TW and their weaning weight, but their dams were conceived earlier.

Effect of creep feeding on the incidence, duration and severity of post-weaning diarrhoea in pigs

Little information is available on age- and creep-feeding-related microbial and immune development in neonatal piglets. Therefore, we explored age- and gut-site-specific alterations in the microbiome, metabolites, histo-morphology, and expression of genes for microbial signaling, as well as immune and barrier function in suckling and newly weaned piglets that were receiving sow milk only or were additionally offered creep feed from day of life (DoL) 10. The experiment was conducted in two replicate batches. Creep feed intake was estimated at the litter level. Piglets were weaned on day 28 of life. Gastric and cecal digesta and jejunal and cecal tissue were collected on DoL 7, 14, 21, 28, 31, and 35 for microbial and metabolite composition, histomorphology, and gene expression. In total, results for 10 piglets (n = 5/sex) per dietary group (sow milk only versus additional creep feed) were obtained for each DoL. The creep feed intake was low at the beginning and only increased in the fourth week of life. Piglets that were fed creep feed had less lactate and acetate in gastric digesta on DoL 28 compared to piglets fed sow milk only (p < 0.05). Age mainly influenced the gastric and cecal bacteriome and cecal mycobiome composition during the suckling phase, whereas the effect of creep feeding was small. Weaning largely altered the microbial communities. For instance, it reduced gastric Lactobacillaceae and cecal Bacteroidaceae abundances and lowered lactate and short-chain fatty acid concentrations on DoL 31 (p < 0.05). Jejunal and cecal expression of genes related to microbial and metabolite signaling, and innate immunity showed age-related patterns that were highest on DoL 7 and declined until DoL 35 (p < 0.05). Weaning impaired barrier function and enhanced antimicrobial secretion by lowering the expression of tight junction proteins and stimulating goblet cell recruitment in the jejunum and cecum (p < 0.05). Results indicated that age-dependent alterations, programmed genetically and by the continuously changing gut microbiome, had a strong impact on the expression of genes for gut barrier function, integrity, innate immunity, and SCFA signaling, whereas creep feeding had little influence on the microbial and host response dynamics at the investigated gut sites.

Effect of creep feeding on structural and functional changes of the gut of early weaned pigs

A trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of different cereals on the performance, gut mucosa, and microbiota of weanling pigs with or without previous access to creep feed during lactation. A total of 108 newly weaned pigs (7.4 kg BW; 26 d of age; half with and half without creep feed) were used. Piglets were distributed by BW into 36 pens according to a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement of treatments with previous access to creep feed (with or without) and cereal source in the experimental diet [barley (Hordeum vulgare), rice (Oryza sativa)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) bran, corn (Zea mays), naked oats (Avena sativa), oats, or rice] as main factors. Pigs were offered the experimental diets for 21 d and performance was monitored. At day 21, 4 piglets from each treatment were killed and sampled for the histological evaluation of jejunal mucosa and the study of ileal and cecal microbiota by RFLP. The Manhattan distances between RFLP profiles were calculated and intragroup similarities (IGS) were estimated for each treatment. An interaction between cereal source and previous creep feeding was observed for ADFI (P < 0.05), indicating that whereas creep feeding increased ADFI for the rice-wheat bran diet it reduced it for naked oats. No differences in mucosal morphology were observed except for deeper crypts in pigs that did not have previous access to creep feed (P < 0.05). Cereal source had a significant effect on IGS of ileal and cecal microbiota (P < 0.01). In the ileum oats and corn had the highest IGS (i.e., lowest heterogeneity of the microbiota) followed by rice, naked oats, barley, and rice-wheat bran whereas in the cecum, IGS was highest for rice and oats followed by corn, barley, rice-wheat bran, and naked oats. An interaction between creep feeding and cereal was also observed for the IGS of the cecal microbiota at day 21 (P < 0.05). Access to creep feed reduced IGS in the piglets fed oats or barley but no differences were observed for the other cereal sources. It is concluded that the effect of creep feeding during lactation on the performance and the microbiota of piglets after weaning is dependent on the nature of the cereal in the postweaning diet.