Weaner Pig Performance Research Articles

Effect of castration and protein level of diet on the growth performance of piglets

A study designed to investigate the effect of dietary protein level and castration on growth performance of weaner pigs was conducted using crossbred piglets (Large white x landrace) of forty days of age and 7,50 kg average live weight. A total of 24 piglets (12 castrated and 12 non castrated) were divided into 3 experimental treatments with four piglets per treatment. The treatments corresponded to three dietary crude protein (CP) levels of 14,26, 16,49 and 20,4 % CP. The main findings of the study showed that there was a linear increase in feed consumption with increasing levels of protein in the diet. Irrespective of treatment, uncastrated piglets consumed more feed than castrated piglets. Increase in the dietary crude protein level and castration were observed to significantly (P

Effect of graded doses and a high dose of microbial phytase on the digestibility of various minerals in weaner pigs1

An experiment with 224 weaner pigs (initial BW of 7.8 kg) was conducted to determine the effect of dose of dietary phytase supplementation on apparent fecal digestibility of minerals (P, Ca, Mg, Na, K, and Cu) and on performance. Four blocks, each with 8 pens of 7 pigs, were formed. Eight dietary treatments were applied to each block in the 43-d experiment: supplementation of 0 (basal diet), 100, 250, 500, 750, 1,500, or 15,000 phytase units (FTU) or of 1.5 g of digestible P (dP; monocalcium phosphate; positive control) per kilogram of feed. The basal diet, with corn, barley, soybean meal, and sunflower seed meal as the main components, contained 1.2 g of dP per kilogram of feed. Fresh fecal grab samples were collected in wk 4 and 5 of the experiment. Average daily feed intake, ADG, G:F, and digestibility of all of the minerals increased (P < 0.001) with increasing phytase dose. Digestibility of P increased from 34% in the basal diet to a maximum of 84% in the diet supplemented with 15,000 FTU, generating 1.76 g of dP per kilogram of feed. At this level, 85% of the phytate phosphorus was digested, compared with 15% in the basal diet. Compared with the basal diet, digestibility of the monovalent minerals increased maximally at 15,000 FTU, from 81 to 92% (Na) and from 76 to 86% (K). In conclusion, phytase supplementation up to a level of 15,000 FTU/kg of a dP-deficient diet improved performance of weaner pigs and digestibility of minerals, including monovalent minerals. Up to 85% of the phytate-P was digested. Thus, dietary phytase supplementation beyond present day standards (500 FTU/kg) could further improve mineral use and consequently reduce mineral output to the environment.

The effect of wheat phosphorus content and supplemental enzymes on digestibility and growth performance of weaner pigs

A 2 × 4 factorial experiment was conducted with the respective factors being wheat phosphorus (P) content (low-P variety: 2.52 g/kg DM, and high-P variety: 3.76 g/kg DM) and enzyme supplementation (no enzyme, xylanase, phytase, and xylanase plus phytase). The enzymes were xylanase (Porzyme ® 9300, minimum activity 4000 U/g endo-1,4-β-xylanase) and phytase (Phyzyme™ XP, activity 4100 U/g phytase). Eighty male weaner pigs (Landrace × Large White, 5.4 ± 0.07 kg) were fed an identical pre-trial diet for 1 week and then received their respective experimental diet for 3 weeks. All diets contained 610 g wheat/kg and similar concentrations of calculated digestible energy (14.2 MJ/kg), available lysine (0.78 g/MJ DE), available P (3.2 g/kg) and Ca:P (1.46:1). Collection of faeces was made for three consecutive days from day 14 for determination of digestibility, using titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. The main effect of wheat P content on the coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of DM, CP, energy, P and Ca was not significant ( P > 0.05). Enzyme supplementation, as a main effect, influenced the CTTAD of DM ( P < 0.01) and energy ( P < 0.01), such that xylanase plus phytase decreased their CTTAD. Xylanase plus phytase improved the CTTAD of P and Ca in the high-P wheat variety diet but not in the low-P wheat variety diet (interaction P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). For performance, significant improvements ( P < 0.05) were only seen in week 1 of the feeding trial. In summary, the wheats used in this study responded differently to xylanase and phytase, and a synergistic effect of xylanase plus phytase supplementation was not significant for either digestibility or pig performance.

Effect of liquid to feed ratio, steeping time, and enzyme supplementation on the performance of weaner pigs

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effect of liquid to feed ratio, steeping time, and enzyme supplementation on performance of weaner pigs. In Expt 1, 40 male weaner pigs (weaned at 27 days of age) were randomly allocated to 4 treatments, including a dry control and 3 liquid diets of differing liquid: feed ratios (2 : 1, 3 : 1, and 4 : 1). Pigs were fed individually. Bodyweight was measured weekly and feed intake measured daily. The results confirmed the advantage of liquid feeding but indicated that liquid: feed ratio had very little effect on performance of weaner pigs. Whereas the digestible energy (DE) content of the 2 : 1 and 3 : 1 diets was similar to the control diet, the DE content of the 4 : 1 diet was significantly lower, possibly due to the removal of the insoluble marker (long chain hydrocarbon) by the amount of water in the diet.In Expt 2, the effect of a xylanase and steeping time on pig performance was assessed in a 2 × 2 factorial design (2 steeping times, 1 h v. 15 h; enzyme addition, + v. –). Sixty male weaner pigs (weaned at 27 days of age) were randomly allocated to 4 treatments and fed individually for 3 weeks. Bodyweight was measured weekly and feed intake measured daily. The experiment revealed that both steeping and enzyme addition increased feed intake (P�&lt;�0.01) and growth rate (P &lt; 0.05), suggesting that both techniques influence the non-starch polysaccharide composition of the wheat-based diet. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) tended to be improved more by steeping than by enzyme addition (P = 0.06). The results would suggest that steeping improves FCR by allowing increased hydration of feed and subsequent activation of the endogenous enzymes present naturally in grains.The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that the water: solid feed ratio would affect nutrient availability to weaner pigs fed liquid diets.

Effects of phytase supplementation of phosphorus-adequate, lysine-deficient, wheat-based diets on growth performance of weaner pigs

The effects of microbial phytase supplementation of phosphorus-adequate, wheat-based diets with available lysine : energy density ratios ranging from 0.75 to 0.90 g available lysine/MJ DE on growth performance of weaner pigs were investigated in 3 studies. In the first study, increasing levels of dietary phytate depressed growth rates (P &lt; 0.08) and efficiency of feed conversion (P &lt; 0.01) and phytase supplementation enhanced growth rates (P &lt; 0.05) and tended to improve feed efficiency (P &lt; 0.15). There were no significant interactions between dietary phytate and phytase inclusion to support the hypothesis that dietary substrate levels of phytate govern responses to phytase. However, in this and other studies, percentage increases in efficiency of feed conversion generated by phytase were positively correlated to dietary phytate concentrations to a significant extent (P &lt; 0.005), so it is possible that dietary substrate levels are of importance to the magnitude of responses following phytase supplementation. Diets with 3 levels of protein, expressed as 0.80, 0.85, and 0.90 g available lysine/MJ DE, were offered to pigs without and with phytase in the second study. Protein/amino acid levels or lysine : energy density ratios did not influence growth performance, which was not expected. However, phytase tended to increase growth rates (P &lt; 0.08) and improved feed efficiency (P &lt; 0.01). Although it is believed that phytase may have a positive influence on protein utilisation, this was not demonstrated in this experiment. In the third study, the simultaneous inclusion of phytase and xylanase feed enzymes in wheat-based weaner diets did not increase growth performance responses in comparison with phytase alone. Individually, phytase improved feed efficiency (P &lt; 0.05) and numerically increased growth rates (P &lt; 0.25). Although responses in growth performance of weaner pigs following phytase supplementation lacked consistency, they were generally positive and indicative of anti-nutritive properties of phytate that are unrelated to P availability. That these positive responses were observed in diets with suboptimal available lysine : energy density ratios is consistent with the possibility that phytate has a negative influence on protein utilisation, which is ameliorated by phytase. However, these antinutritive effects and their underlying mechanisms need to be better defined if full advantage of the potential protein-sparing effects of microbial phytase is to be taken.

Performance of weaner pigs when fed diets containing different combinations of exogenous xylanase and betaine

Exogenous xylanases reduce anti-nutritional factors in feedstuffs and help optimise digestion in the small intestine through their positive effects on water holding capacity, nutrient packaging, digesta viscosity and flow. The net effect is reduced likelihood of both undesirable bacterial proliferation in the small intestine and migration of bacteria from the large to the small intestine leading to a disease challenge and hence reduced performance. Osmotic upsets have also been observed with pigs fed cereal-based diets, and the osmoregulatory role of betaine may strengthen the pig’s defence of this condition. As the mode of action of betaine is different from enzymes, it has been postulated that piglets may be responsive to combinations of these additives. The object of the experiment reported was to study the performance of weaner pigs fed diets containing differing rates of inclusion of exogenous xylanase and betaine.

Bushel weight of wheat and enzyme supplementation did not affect weaner pig performance

Wheat is often the largest single ingredient in piglet diets and therefore variation in quality may have a large effect on piglet performance. Currently there is no rapid method for the nutritive assessment of wheat. The livestock feed industry traditionally uses bushel weight as a predictor of nutritive value; however this assumption has recently been challenged by a literature review (Miller and Wilkinson, 1998) and by a weaner trial (Miller, Toplis, Arnold, Cook and Marshall, 2000). The aim of this experiment was to compare two more extreme bushel weights of Riband (64 v 78 kg/hl) than used in the previous experiment (Miller et al., 2000) when fed to weaned piglets with and without a xylanase enzyme. In order to amplify possible differences wheats were uncooked and included in the test diets at an atypically high level. We hypothesised that 78 kg/hl bushel weight would outperform 64kg/hl bushel weight (which is below the standard accepted by feed mills for feed wheat) and that enzyme supplementation would improve the performance of both wheats.

Effect on weaner pig performance and diet microbiology of feeding a liquid diet acidified to pH 4 with either lactic acid or through fermentation withPediococcus acidilactici

The effect of feeding newly weaned pigs acidified liquid diets was investigated. The control diet was acidified to about pH 4 with lactic acid (LA). A second diet of the same formulation was acidified to about pH 4 by fermentation with Pediococcus acidilactici (PA). Forty-eight weaner pigs (weight 7 kg±1 kg, age 24±4 days) were allocated to the two dietary treatments according to a randomised block design and fed ad libitum for 28 days. Food intake, daily gain and water intake were recorded, and a microbial assessment of the liquid diet was conducted. Reducing pH<4.0 in either of the liquid diets was effective in eliminating coliform bacteria. There were no significant differences in any of the performance parameters measured. The average daily liveweight gain overall was 474 and 496±17.8 g d−1 for PA and LA, respectively, with a feed conversion ratio overall of 1.15 and 1.11±0.025 for PA and LA, respectively. Fermentation of liquid diets for newly weaned piglets could provide a more cost effective means of acidifying diets than the use of organic acids. Reducing the pH of the liquid diet to 4.00 by fermentation with Pediococcus acidilactici was a cost effective method of eliminating enteropathogens and spoilage organisms from the diet. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry

Effect on weaner pig performance and diet microbiology of feeding a liquid diet acidified to pH 4 with either lactic acid or through fermentation with Pediococcus acidilactici

Effect on weaner pig performance and diet microbiology of feeding a liquid diet acidified to pH 4 with either lactic acid or through fermentation with Pediococcus acidilactici

Performance of Weaner Pigs Fed ad libitumwith Liquid Feed at Different Dry Matter Concentrations

The effect of feeding pigs weaned at 24 ± 2.6 days, ad libitum, a diet mixed with water to provide four different dry matter concentrations of 149, 179, 224 and 255 g kg -1 (diets DM149, DM179, DM224, DM255, respectively) was investigated in a 28 day feeding trial, utilising a total of 96 pigs. The diets were delivered by an automated system, the storage and mixing vessel of which was replenished daily. In addition to the water supplied in the liquid diet water was freely available to the pigs at all times from nipple waterers. Dietary dry matter (DM) concentration had no significant effect on DM intake, weight gain or DM feed conversion ratio of the piglets. Decreasing feed DM had a noticeable effect on total volumetric (DM plus water) intake of the piglets. When feed dry matter was reduced from 255 to 224 g kg -1 piglets reduced their voluntary water intake from nipple waterers in order to maintain DM intake and total volumetric intake. At lower DM concentrations, the pigs maintained DM intake by increasing their total volumetric intake. Piglets continued to consume an average of 223 ml water per day from the nipple waterers even at the lowest DM concentration. On DM149 total volumetric intake was 30% of live weight. The effect of dry matter (DM) concentration of feed on the pattern of microbial activity of the liquid feed system was investigated. Liquid diets were colonised rapidly by naturally occurring Lactobacillus spp in the first 5 days. After 5 days the population stabilised and remained constant for the remainder of the trial period. DM concentration of liquid feed had little overall effect on the pattern of microbial activity. The proliferation of Lactobacillus spp resulted in acidification of the liquid feed, (pH range 4.1-4.2) for all four treatments and this was associated with a lowering of coliform numbers. There was a significant increase in the overall effluent output as the DM content of the diet decreased (P < 0.01). It is concluded that weanling piglets will readily accept liquid feed with DM content in the range 255 to 149 g kg -1 , and that DM content in this range has little effect on post weaning performance. However, in order to maintain DM intake without increasing effluent output, it is recommended that the DM content of liquid diets should not be reduced below 200 g kg -1 (equivalent to a 3.5 :1 water to feed ratio).

Performance of Weaner Pigs Fed ad libitumwith Liquid Feed at Different Dry Matter Concentrations

Performance of Weaner Pigs Fed ad libitumwith Liquid Feed at Different Dry Matter Concentrations

Activity level and performance of weaner pigs exposed to 915 MHz microwave radiation

Microwave radiation (MWR) (915 MHz) is considered a possible source of supplementary heat for early-weaned pigs. To determine the behavioural effect of this form of heat on weaner pigs, four trials were carried out in which 64 pigs were exposed to microwave (MW) treatment at 11.4 (MW1) or 6.1 (MW2) mW cm−1 or infrared (IR) radiation at 500 W (IRR), each following a 4-d adaptation period. Pigs exposed to both MW treatments displayed greater (P &lt; 0.05) daily percent resting time compared with IR exposed pigs [86.0 ± 1.6 vs. 82.3 ± 2.5 vs. 79.4 ± 3.7% (mean ± SD) for MW1, MW2 and IRR, respectively]. The increase in resting time was greatest after the first day of treatment and gradually returned to pretreatment levels over the course of the 3-wk experiment. The treatment effect over time was also significant (P &lt; 0.05) between IR and both MW treatments and indicated similar patterns of resting time for the MW treatments. The pattern of resting behaviour for the IR group remained relatively unchanged throughout the experiment. Microwave exposure did not have an effect (P &gt; 0.05) on average daily gain [0.32 ± 0.12 vs. 0.28 ± 0.07 vs. 0.30 ± 0.13 kg day−1 (mean ± SD) for IRR, MW1 and MW2, respectively]. The results indicate that 915 MHz MWR causes a power-level-dependent decrease in activity in weaner pigs. However, MW exposure does not significantly affect performance in weaner pigs. Key words: Weaner pigs, microwaves, behaviour, performance, supplementary heat

An evaluation of the performance of weaner pigs fed diets incorporating fresh sweet liquid whey

Three hundred and eighty-five pigs from 77 litters weaned at 5 weeks of age were used to evaluate the consumption and nutritive value of fresh sweet liquid whey over a 4 week period. The diets were: control weaner diet, fed dry (T1); weaner diet + water, fed as a slurry mixed at a ratio of 1:1 (T2); weaner diet + fresh whey, fed as a slurry mixed at a ratio of 1:1 (T3); weaner diet + fresh whey, fed as a slurry mixed at a ratio of 1:2 (T4); weaner diet + fresh whey, fed separately (T5). The pigs were fed to appetite at least five times a day. Treatments were replicated eight times, weekly, in groups of nine or ten pigs per treatment. Feeding slurry diets improved weaner diet intake by 3.8% in T2, 6.8% in T3 and 3.4% in T4 when compared with the dry meal control (T1). Feeding liquid whey ad libitum separately resulted in highest whey intake and reduced weaner diet consumption by 10.2%. Incidence of severe frothy diarrhoea during the first week after weaning was higher ( P < 0.01) in pigs fed slurry diets or fresh whey separately (9–14%) than in those fed the control dry meal (5%). The proportion of pigs with severe diarrhoea decreased as the pigs grew older and diarrhoea had no adverse effects on pig performance. Daily liveweight gains were higher in whey supplemented treatments than in control treatments (T1 and T2) during the first and second week postweaning ( P < 0.01), but did not differ during the third and fourth week after weaning. Weekly liveweights of pigs were higher with whey supplemented diets than of controls throughout the experimental period ( P < 0.01). The liveweight advantage gained from whey supplementation persisted during the postexperimental period up to 12 weeks postweaning ( P < 0.05). It is concluded that liquid fresh whey can be fed restricted or ad libitum to weaner pigs resulting in improved performance and with no risk of detrimental diarrhoea.

Preservation of brewers years slurry by a simple on-farm adaptable technology and its effect on performance of weaner pigs

Ten batches of brewers yeast slurry (BYS) were analysed for proximate chemical composition, then mixed with ground maize grain (GMG) at 1:2, 1:1.5 and 1:1 w/w ratios; and with cassava root meal (CRM) and cassava peels meal (CPM), both at 1:1 w/w ratio. The mixtures were sun-dried to moisture content of 100 g kg −1 or less, then packed and stored. The mean dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) contents of the BYS were 159.5 g kg −1 and 456.0 g kg −1 of DM, respectively. The mixtures of BYS:GMG at 1:2, 1:1.5 and 1:1 w/w contained 122.6 g, 135.6 g and 145.6 g kg −1 CP dry weight, respectively, while the BYS:CRM and BYS:CPM mixtures contained on average 86.5 g and 117.8 g kg −1 CP dry weight, respectively. The BYS:GMG mixtures at 1:1.5 and 1:1 ratios were included in diets to replace respectively 400 g kg −1 (BYS:GMG-1) and 550 g kg −1 (BYS:GMG-II) of protein supplied by 200 g kg −1 of soyabean meal in the control (GMG) diet. Eight crossbred weaner pigs of Large White and Landrace breeds averaging 11.78 kg liveweight, were allocated in groups of four, and in two replicates, to each of the three test diets for a 35 day feeding trial. Mean daily gain was 0.43 kg, 0.42 kg and 0.40 kg, mean daily feed intake was 1.03 kg, 0.95 kg and 0.96 kg, the feed gain ratio was 2.59, 2.35 and 2.39 for GMG; BYS:GMG-I and BYS:GMG-II diets, respectively. These values did not differ significantly ( P > 0.05). Brewers yeast slurry reduced feed cost per kilogram liveweight gain significantly ( P < 0.05) and improved feed utilisation with consequent improvement in pig production efficiency.

The effects of supplementing diets for weanling pigs with organic acids. A review

1. Effect on weaner pig performance and diet microbiology of feeding a liquid diet acidified to pH 4 with either lactic acid or through fermentation withPediococcus acidilactici Tina M Geary, Peter H Brooks, Jane D Beal, Alastair Campbell Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture CrossRef

The Effect of Replacing Skim Milk Powder by Sunflower Meal on the Performance of Weaner Pigs

The Effect of Replacing Skim Milk Powder by Sunflower Meal on the Performance of Weaner Pigs