Split Suckling, Birth Order, and Birth Weight Affects Colostrum Intake and Pre-Weaning Weight Gain

J Morton,D L Davis,A Langemeier,T Rathbun

doi:10.4148/2378-5977.7460

Abstract

Split Suckling, Birth Order, and Birth Weight Affects Colostrum Intake and Pre-Weaning Weight Gain

Highlights

Colostrum is an important source of nutrients and immunoglobulins for newborn pigs
Thirty sows (DNA Line 241, n = 10/treatment) and litters were used to determine the effects of split suckling on immunocrit, colostrum intake, and growth of low birth weight pigs and pigs that farrow last in the birth order
Three treatments were used 1) control, all pigs suckled ad libitum; 2) weight based, the heaviest 6 pigs were removed for 1.5 h; or 3) birth order based, the first half of the litter was removed for 1.5 h

Summary

Introduction

Colostrum is an important source of nutrients and immunoglobulins for newborn pigs. The access to colostrum may not be distributed, to low birth weight (LBW, < 1.4 lb) pigs and pigs later in the birth order. Temporary removal of part of the litter (split suckling) is often employed to afford more equal access to colostrum; the practice is not standardized. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of split suckling on pig immunoglobins, colostrum intake, and growth of low birth weight pigs and pigs that are born later in the birth order

Objectives

Results

Conclusion