Piglets In Treatment Research Articles

Effects of timing of grouping and split-weaning on growth performance and behaviour of piglets in a multi-suckling system

Variation in body weight (BW) of piglets at weaning is a drawback for successful implementation of multi-suckling (MS) systems. The current study investigated the combination of two intervention strategies, i.e. the timing of grouping and split-weaning, aiming to improve the BW gain of low birthweight piglets in an MS system and thereby reduce the BW variation at weaning on day 48 postpartum (p.p.). Eight batches of 5 sows with their litters were divided into 4 control (CTRL) and 4 treatment (TREAT) batches. In each litter, the second lowest (LBW) and highest (HBW) birthweight piglets from both sexes were selected as focal piglets. CTRL piglets were grouped on day 8 p.p. and no split-weaning was applied; TREAT piglets were grouped on day 13 p.p. and the three heaviest non-focal piglets per litter were split-weaned on day 35 p.p. Behaviour and feed intake were measured in focal piglets, and BW and mortality were measured in all piglets. Results showed that: (1) Throughout lactation there were no differences in BW or BW gain between CTRL and TREAT, nor were birthweight × treatment interactions found. (2) After grouping, there were no obvious differences between CTRL and TREAT in feeding and suckling behaviours on day 18, damage scores on snout, ear or tail and skin lesions on day 27, nor were birthweight × treatment interactions found. (3) After split-weaning, in week 6, piglets in TREAT tended to consume less feed than CTRL (P = 0.072). Low birthweight piglets in TREAT consumed numerically less feed and spent numerically less time contacting feed during the day than CTRL piglets. In week 6, there was a significant birthweight × treatment interaction in dry matter milk intake (P = 0.030), caused by a higher milk intake of TREAT-LBW piglets compared with CTRL-LBW piglets. In week 6, TREAT piglets tended to be present more at front and middle teats (P = 0.052) and tended to have lower snout damage scores (P = 0.084) than CTRL piglets. (4) Piglet crushing of all piglets in TREAT tended to be higher during the period when TREAT piglets were not yet grouped i.e. during days 9–14 than CTRL (P = 0.087). To conclude, split-weaning of the heavy piglets increased milk intake particularly of low birthweight piglets but this did not lead to a reduction in BW variation at weaning, as the increased milk intake was largely compensated for by a simultaneous decrease in feed intake.

195 Depriving piglets of maternal feces changes piglet physiology and performance before and after weaning

Abstract Coprophagy has been described in piglets, but its effects on piglet physiology, behavior, and performance have not been fully assessed. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate how deprivation of maternal feces influenced these measures before and after weaning. Eight litters were randomly assigned to one of two treatments following a CRD design: Control and treatment (TRT). Piglets in the control group had access to maternal feces while piglets in TRT litters were deprived of maternal feces for the first 7 d of age. Measures of piglet behavior were observed for 24 h on d 7 of age. Blood samples were collected from two piglets from each litter (i.e. male and female) at 0, 7, and 21 d of age for hematological analyses. Litters were weaned at 25 ±2 d of age and post-weaning growth performance was assessed until 100 d post weaning. During the first 3 d post-partum, sow fecal output was low or absent. After 3 d post-partum, sows defecated 220.7 ± 43.86 g/d (DM basis). No treatment effects were observed on measures of behavior, hematocrit or hemoglobin at 0, 7, and 21 d of age (P > 0.05). Relative to the control group, TRT piglets had 25% lower WBC numbers (PP ≤ 0.05). At 100-d post-weaning, control pigs were 8.33 ± 1.9 kg heavier than TRT pigs (P < 0.05). Collectively, these results show that when piglets had access to maternal feces during the first 7 d of age, while not changing nursing or other behaviors, they had better pre- and post-weaning performance than piglets deprived of maternal feces. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanisms (nutritional, microbial, or pheromonal) through which maternal feces changes physiology and improves the growth of piglets.