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The effect of dietary protein level and creep feeding on carcass composition at slaughter in the pig

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

B Miller
Affiliation:
University of Bristol, Dept of Veterinary Medicine, Langford, Bristol BS18 7DU
F J Bourne
Affiliation:
University of Bristol, Dept of Veterinary Medicine, Langford, Bristol BS18 7DU
A J Brown
Affiliation:
Food Research Institute (Bristol), Langford, Bristol BS18 7DY
A Lightfoot
Affiliation:
Experimental Husbandry Farn, Terring St Clement, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
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Extract

It is common practice to wean pigs at five weeks of age, or less, on to a high protein diet (>200g crude protein/kg). However, a transient hypersensitivity to the dietary protein may pre-dispose the pig to post weaning diarrhoea and the relatively high level of protein in both early weaner rations (Bertschinger, et al. 1979) and creep feeds (Miller et al. 1984) may exacerbate the problem.

We report here some preliminary results from a feeding trial at Terrington Experimental Husbandry Farm. Animals were allocated at 7 days of age, whilst still suckling, to one of four treatments. Groups 1 and 2 were fed a high protein (220 g CP/kg DM) diet and groups 3 and 4 were fed a low protein (160 g CP/kg DM) experimental diet. Both of the diets were balanced such that they provided 17.2 MJ/kg digestible energy with a lysine value of 16 g/kg CP. Neither diet contained any antibiotics. Groups 1 and 3 were fed the ration as a creep from 7 days. Animals were weaned at approximately 21 days into kennels maintained at 29°C for the first week, 28°C for the second week and gradually reduced to 20°C during the third week.

Type
Consumer Attitudes and Heat Composition
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1986

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References

Bertschinger, H.U., et al (1979). Evaluation of low nutrient, high fibre diets for the prevention of porcine Escherichia coli. enterotoxaemia. Veterinary Microbiology, 3 (1978/1979) 281–290.Google Scholar
Miller, B.G., et al. (1984) Influence of diet on postweaning malabsorption and diarrhoea in the pig. Research in Veterinary Science (1984) 36, 187193.Google ScholarPubMed
Brown, A.J., and Williams, D.R. (1977). Pig carcass evaluation - measurement of composition using anatomical dissection. Memo No.33 Meat Research Institute (Bristol).Google Scholar