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Identifying the limitations for growth in low performing piglets from birth until 10 weeks of age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2014

S. P. Paredes ,
A. J. M. Jansman ,
M. W. A. Verstegen ,
L. A. den Hartog ,
H. M. J. van Hees ,
J. E. Bolhuis ,
T. A. T. G. van Kempen  and
W. J. J. Gerrits
S. P. Paredes*
Affiliation:
Nutreco Research and Development, P.O. Box 220, 5830 AE, Boxmeer, the Netherlands Animal Nutrition Group, Wageningen University, 6709 PG Wageningen, the Netherlands
A. J. M. Jansman
Affiliation:
Wageningen UR Livestock Research, P.O. Box 65, 8200 AB, Lelystad, the Netherlands
M. W. A. Verstegen
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition Group, Wageningen University, 6709 PG Wageningen, the Netherlands
L. A. den Hartog
Affiliation:
Nutreco Research and Development, P.O. Box 220, 5830 AE, Boxmeer, the Netherlands Animal Nutrition Group, Wageningen University, 6709 PG Wageningen, the Netherlands
H. M. J. van Hees
Affiliation:
Nutreco Research and Development, P.O. Box 220, 5830 AE, Boxmeer, the Netherlands
J. E. Bolhuis
Affiliation:
Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands
T. A. T. G. van Kempen
Affiliation:
Nutreco Research and Development, P.O. Box 220, 5830 AE, Boxmeer, the Netherlands
W. J. J. Gerrits
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition Group, Wageningen University, 6709 PG Wageningen, the Netherlands
*
†E-mail: sandra.paredes@nutreco.com
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Abstract

The evolution of hyper-prolific pig breeds has led to a higher within-litter variation in birth weight and in BW gain during the nursery phase. Based on an algorithm developed in previous research, two populations from a pool of 368 clinically healthy piglets at 6 weeks of age were selected: a low (LP) and a high (HP) performing population and their development was monitored until the end of the nursery phase (10 weeks of age). To understand the cause of the variation in growth between these populations we characterized the LP and HP piglets in terms of body morphology, behaviour, voluntary feed intake, BW gain, and apparent total tract and ileal nutrient digestibility. Piglets were housed individually and were fed a highly digestible diet. At selection, 6 weeks of age, the BW of LP and HP piglets were 6.8±0.1 and 12.2±0.1 kg, respectively. Compared with the LP piglets the HP piglets grew faster (203 g/day), ate more (275 g/day) from 6 to 10 weeks of age and were heavier at 10 weeks (30.0 v. 18.8 kg, all P<0.01). Yet, the differences in average daily gain and average daily feed intake disappeared when compared per kg BW0.75. Assuming similar maintenance requirements per kg BW0.75 the efficiency of feed utilization above maintenance was 0.1 g/g lower for the LP piglets (P=0.09).The gain : feed ratio was similar for both groups. LP piglets tended to take more time to touch a novel object (P=0.10), and spent more time eating (P<0.05). At 10 weeks, LP piglets had a higher body length and head circumference relative to BW (P<0.01). Relative to BW, LP had a 21% higher small intestine weight; 36% longer length, and relative to average FI, the small intestinal weight was 4 g/kg higher (both P=<0.01). Apparent total tract and ileal dry matter, N and gross energy digestibility were similar between groups (P>0.10). We concluded that the low performance of the LP piglets was due to their inability to engage compensatory gain or compensatory feed intake as efficiency of nutrient utilization and feed intake per kg BW0.75 was unaffected. LP piglets tend to be more fearful towards novel objects. The morphological comparisons, increased body length and head circumference relative to BW imply that LP piglets have an increased priority for skeletal growth.

Keywords

behaviourdigestibilitygrowthlimitationspiglet
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 8 , Issue 6 , June 2014 , pp. 923 - 930
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2014 

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