Abstract
A total of 72 castrated, crossbred (Landrace×Yorkshire) piglets (5.7±0.7 kg BW) were allotted to one of three treatments including: a dry crumbled feed fed for 40 days; liquid feed provided for 10 days followed by dry crumbled feed for 30 days; and liquid feed provided for 20 days followed by dry crumbled feed for 20 days. Liquid feed was produced fresh each day by mixing water with dry crumbled feed at a ratio of 3:1. Pigs fed liquid feed for 10 days had a higher weight gain during the first 10 days (+16.8%; p = 0.01) and over the entire experimental period (+4.9%; p = 0.07) than pigs offered dry feed. Pigs fed liquid feed for 20 days also had a higher weight gain during the period from d 0 to 10 (+12.8%; p = 0.01), from d 10 to 20 (+8.5%; p = 0.06) and from d 0 to 20 (+9.7%; p = 0.01) than pigs offered dry feed. Pigs fed liquid feed for the first 10 days had higher feed intakes from d 0 to 10 (+22.6%; p = 0.01) and from d 0 to 40 (+5.3%; p = 0.02) than pigs offered dry feed. Pigs fed liquid feed for the first 20 days had a higher feed intake from d 0 to 10 (+21.8%; p = 0.01), from d 10 to 20 (+10.6%; p = 0.06), from d 0 to 20 (+14.6%; p = 0.01) and from d 0 to 40 (+6.6%; p = 0.02) than pigs offered dry feed. Feed conversion from d 0 to 40 tended to be poorer for pigs fed liquid feed during the first 20 days (p = 0.08) indicating an increase in feed wastage with liquid feeding. Nutrient digestibility at day 10 was unaffected by dietary treatment. However, at day 30, pigs fed liquid feed for 10 days had higher digestibility of dry matter (p = 0.08), energy (p = 0.10), crude protein (p = 0.03) and neutral detergent fibre (p = 0.05) than pigs fed liquid feed for 20 days. In conclusion, liquid feeding for 10 or 20 days increased the performance of weaned pigs during the specific time period that liquid feeding occurred but there were no carry over effects into subsequent production periods. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2006. Vol 19, No. 3 : 396-401)
Highlights
The process of weaning, no matter how carefully managed, results in changes in the gut of the pig that make it more susceptible to digestive upset, diarrhea and impaired appetite (Thacker, 1998)
Pigs fed liquid feed for 20 days had a higher feed intake from d 0 to 10 (+21.8%; p = 0.01), from d 10 to 20 (+10.6%; p = 0.02), from d 0 to 20 (+14.6%; p = 0.01) and from d 0 to 40 (+6.6%; p = 0.02) than pigs offered dry feed. These results agree with previous research demonstrating an increase in feed intake as a result of liquid feeding after weaning (Kornegay et al, 1981; Partridge et al, 1992; Lawlor et al, 2002)
The improvement in feed intake seen with wet feeding has been suggested to be behaviourally based due to the fact that the newly weaned pig does not have to learn new and separate feeding and drinking behaviour immediately following weaning (Thacker, 1998)
Summary
The process of weaning, no matter how carefully managed, results in changes in the gut of the pig that make it more susceptible to digestive upset, diarrhea and impaired appetite (Thacker, 1998). The objective in developing feeding programs for weaned pigs is to recognize these unique needs and facilitate a smooth transition to solid feed resulting in rapid and efficient growth and limited health problems (Cranwell and Moughan, 1989). How well this is accomplished, has a significant effect on future pig performance (Goodband et al, 1993). Liquid feeding has been reported to stimulate feed intake after weaning and increase growth (Brooks et al, 1996; Kim et al, 2001). Lawlor et al (2002) reported that liquid feeding for weaned pigs decreased growth
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