Supplemental skim milk before and after weaning improves growth performance of pigs

Abstract

Twelve Large White × Landrace sows nursing litters of 6 boars and 6 gilts were used in this study. Six litters suckled the sow only, whereas the other 6 litters received supplemental liquid skim milk (200 g/L) ad libitum from Day 10 until Day 20. On Day 20 the 4 heaviest pigs of each sex were allocated to 2 pairs and were weaned. Each pair was offered either pelleted or pelleted plus liquid feed. For the first 2 days post-weaning, each pair of liquid-supplemented pigs received liquid skim milk (250 g/L). On Day 23, pelleted feed was added to the milk. The ratio of liquid to pelleted feed was adjusted daily until, on Day 28, pigs were provided with pelleted feed only until 41 days of age. Supplemental skim milk increased growth (223 v. 291 g/day, P < 0.001) between Days 10 and 20 of age so that by weaning supplemented pigs were 10% (6.13 v. 6.74 kg, P = 0.038) heavier than unsupplemented pigs. Skim milk intake increased linearly from 190 to 600 g/day per pig over the 10 days of supplementation. Supplemental milk feeding did not alter sow liveweight change (−31.9 v. −30.3 kg for sows nursing litters with and without supplementation, respectively, P = 0.894) or change in P2 backfat thickness (−5.3 v. −4.2 mm, P = 0.279) between farrowing and Day 20 of age. Pigs weaned onto skim milk and pellets ate more (257 v. 30 g dry matter (DM)/day, P < 0.001) and grew better (213 v. −151 g/day, P < 0.001) over the first 2 days post-weaning than pigs weaned onto only pellets. Piglets provided with liquid feed after weaning continued to grow faster beyond Day 22, resulting in the benefit of weaning onto liquid feed being maintained until at least 41 days of age (14.1 v. 12.8 kg, P < 0.001). In conclusion, skim milk feeding before and after weaning can result in cumulative improvements in growth performance in the nursery.