Abstract
When piglets are weaned at around 3 to 4 weeks of age consumption of creep food can be very variable between pigs, some not consuming any (Pajor et al, 1991), there being little opportunity to learn about solid food from the sow. Thus weaning results in a temporary reduction in nutrient intake while the pig learns to accept solid food and this results in a depression in growth, the weaning check. In other species, such as the rat, animals can learn about novel foods from a knowledgeable conspecific (Galef, 1994) but it is not clear if this transfer of knowledge occurs in pigs. Morgan et al. (2001) observed an enhanced food intake of pairs of pigs containing an experienced and inexperienced pig of the same age housed together compared to a similar pair housed apart or a pair of inexperienced pigs. Therefore, in this experiment the influence on solid food intake and growth by inexperienced piglets when housed with an experienced older pig was examined under more practical group-housing conditions.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
