Abstract
The quantity of milk consumed by piglets was estimated with the aid of the ‘weigh–suckle–weigh’ method. During the four weeks of lactation we closely observed the changes in the quantity of milk taken in by piglets with respect to the defined area of the mammary complex (anterior (A), middle (M) and posterior (P)). Daily milk production was estimated, and comparison was made between the growth rate of the piglets and their birth weight (light, heavy). Ten sows (Landrace×Large White) with their suckled litters (9.8±1.9 piglets) were evaluated in the study. There were no significant differences between the A and M areas in the quantity of milk consumed by the piglets, yet both areas differed significantly from the P area (p<0.05). During the entire period of lactation, piglets that suckled at the cranial (A and M area) teats took in more milk and consequently achieved higher daily weight gain than the piglets positioned in the P area. The body mass growth of piglets was positively and significantly correlated with gland milk yield during lactation stages (p<0.05).
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Schedule a callMore From: Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A — Animal Science
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