Influence of creep feeder position on the behavior and performance of preweaning piglets and sows in a hot climate environment.

Ewerson S Oliveira,Hellen K.S Lima,Jacqueline S Neves,Allan P Schinckel,Jamilly G Damasceno,Cesar A.P Garbossa,Maria F.A Vieira,Bruno M Monteiro,Vitor O Araújo,Pedro H Nascimento,Elaine L.L Nascimento,Rafael A Oliveira,Natália C Oliveira,Juliana C Silva

doi:10.1590/0001-3765202120200248

Ewerson S Oliveira, Hellen K.S Lima + Show 12 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202120200248

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Abstract

The use of creep feeding for preweaning piglets is important to improve the performance of the piglets. The objective of this experiment was evaluate the effect of using or altering the position of piglet's creep feeder during lactation on piglet's performance and on behavior of piglets and sows kept in a hot climate environment. Forty-five sows and their litters at 10 days of lactation were randomly distributed into three treatments: front feeder (FF) - near the side of the sow's head; back feeder (BF) - near the side of the rump of the sow; and no feeder (NF). All piglets were weighed individually to evaluate the average weight, weight gain and coefficient of variation of the weight. Behavior assessments of the piglets and sows were recorded in 3 period. At 15 and 21 d, piglets of the FF treatment were heavier (P ≤ 0.0001) than piglets of the other treatments. At 10-21d piglets of FF treatment had 76.2% less belly nosing behavior than the NF piglets (P=0.015). The treatments had no impact on behavior of the sows. The creep feeders positioned in the front of the farrowing crate increased piglet growth rate and decreased frequency of belly nosing behavior.

Highlights

Nutrient intake by preweaning piglets is based on the sow’s milk production
Sows submitted to heat stress have reduced voluntary feed intake, reduced milk production, decreased piglet performance (Ribeiro et al 2018, Cabezón et al 2016), and increased death rate (D’Allaire et al 1996)
Piglets of the front feeder (FF) treatment were heavier at 15d and 21d (P ≤ 0.0001) than the piglets of the back feeder (BF) and no feeder (NF) treatments (Table I)

Summary

Introduction

Nutrient intake by preweaning piglets is based on the sow’s milk production. in order to improve litter performance, it is a common practice to provide preweaning piglets with a diet with high biological value nutrients, from seven to ten days of age until weaning, especially for the heavier piglets of a litter as they tend to eat more creep feed than their littermates of lower birth weight (Pajor et al 1991).The use of creep feeding for preweaning piglets is important to improve performance of piglets before and after weaning (Adeleye et al 2014). Nutrient intake by preweaning piglets is based on the sow’s milk production. In order to improve litter performance, it is a common practice to provide preweaning piglets with a diet with high biological value nutrients, from seven to ten days of age until weaning, especially for the heavier piglets of a litter as they tend to eat more creep feed than their littermates of lower birth weight (Pajor et al 1991). The use of creep feeding for preweaning piglets is important to improve performance of piglets before and after weaning (Adeleye et al 2014). Sows submitted to heat stress have reduced voluntary feed intake, reduced milk production, decreased piglet performance (Ribeiro et al 2018, Cabezón et al 2016), and increased death rate (D’Allaire et al 1996). It is well known that creep feed intake is very low during lactation (Kuller et al 2010, Middelkoop et al 2018) and that increasing the amount creep feed consumed is essential to improve preweaning growth rate and increase postweaning growth rates (Sulabo et al 2010)

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