Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-xfwgj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-19T20:30:44.201Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Further observations on the relative influence of birth weight and creep-feed consumption on the 3- and 8-week weights of sucking pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 1961

G. A. Lodge ,
I. McDonald  and
R. M. MacPherson
G. A. Lodge
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen
I. McDonald
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen
R. M. MacPherson
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen
Get access

Extract

1. Data from the first 3 litters of each of 21 Wessex Saddleback sows were analysed on within-Utter, between-litter/within-sow and between-litter/ between-sow bases.

2. There were highly significant differences between sows in the mean weight of their pigs at birth, 3 and 8 weeks of age; between litters of the same sow there were no significant differences at birth or 8 weeks but pigs in third litters were significantly lighter than those of the first and second Utters at 3 weeks of age. There was a significant increase in number born but not in number weaned from first to third litters.

3. Within litters, the variation in 3-week weight accounted for by variation in birth weight was 30% in first litters, 48% in second litters and 45% in third; respective relationships between birth weight and 8-week weight were 14, 27 and 26%. Between litters of the same sow, differences in mean birth weight accounted for 50 % of the difference which occurred in 3-week weight and for 26 % of the difference in 8-week weight. Differences in mean creep-feed consumption accounted for 18% and differences in mean 3-week weight for 44% of the differences which occurred in weight at weaning. Between litters of different sows, the variation in birth weight accounted for 48% of the variation in 3-week weight, and 8% of the variation in 8-week weight. Differences in creep-feed consumption accounted for 36% and differences in 3-week weight accounted for 26 % of the difference in weight at weaning.

4. Season of birth had some effect on weaning weight due in part to an effect on creep-feed consumption. There was a negative correlation between birth weight and mortality and a positive correlation between mortality and Utter size.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 3 , Issue 3 , October 1961 , pp. 261 - 267
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1961

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Blunn, C. T., Warwick, E. J., & Wiley, J. R., 1954. Interrelationships of swine weights at three ages. J. Anim. Sci., 13: 383.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Combs, G. E., Wallace, H. D., Alsmeyer, W. L., & Koger, M., 1959. Growth potential of swine as measured by serum alkaline phosphatase. J. Anim. Sci., 18: 361.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holder, J. M., 1959. The effect of antibiotics in creep feed on growth rate and incidence of diarrhoea in suckled pigs. Aust. vet. J., 35: 296.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jespersen, J., & Olsen, H. M., 1939. [Investigation on food requirements of suckling sows.] Beretn. Forsegslab. Kobenhavn., No. 186. (In Danish.)Google Scholar
Lodge, G. A., & Mcdonald, I., 1959. The relative influence of birth weight, milk consumption and supplementary food consumption upon the growth rates of suckling piglets. Anim. Prod., 1: 139.Google Scholar
Lodge, G. A., & Macpherson, R. M., 1961. Level of feeding during early life and the subsequent reproductive performance of sows. Anim. Prod., 3: 19.Google Scholar
Meyer, W., 1940. Die aufzuchtverluste beim schwein. J. Landwirtsch., 87:302.Google Scholar
Olofsson, N. E., 1950. [Relation between age and weight increase of young pigs.] Kgl. Lantbrhögsk. Stat. Husdjursforsök Medd., No. 42. (In Swedish.)Google Scholar
Pomeroy, R. W., 1960. Infertility and neonatal mortality in the sow. III. Neonatal mortality and foetal development. J. agric. Sci., 54:31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sibbald, I. R., & Bowland, J. P., 1956. Supplemental ribofiavin and feed flavour in creep feed rations for swine. Canad. J. agric. Sci., 36: 19.Google Scholar