Abstract
Neonatal viability is one of the key factors affecting piglets’ vitality, which ultimately affects the survival and growth of piglets (England, 1974). As colostrum is the only food resource of neonatal piglets, their ability to acquire the colostrum as early as possible after their birth can determine their vitality. Piglets are usually supplied with creep food at some time during the suckling period in order to improve their performance before and after weaning. However, the creep food intake varies between litters and between individuals. Furthermore, the relationship between viability in early life and the acceptance of a new food (e.g. creep food) when they first encounter it, is not fully understood. The objectives of this study were to investigate factors affecting the neonatal viability of piglets at birth and to identify the relationship between neonatal viability and subsequent creep feeding behaviour by piglets on d14-d15.
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