Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-m8qmq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T23:09:56.382Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Liquid diets fed prior to weaning enhance performance of weaned piglets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

P.J. Blanchard
Affiliation:
Frank Wright Ltd., Blenheim House, Blenheim Road, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1HA, UK
P. Toplis
Affiliation:
Primary Diets Ltd., Melmerby Industrial Estate, Melmerby, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5HP, UK
L. Taylor
Affiliation:
Meat and Livestock Commission, Hitchin Road, Stotfold, Hitchin, Herts SG5 4JG, UK
H.M. Miller
Affiliation:
The University of Leeds, Centre for Animal Sciences, LIBA, School of Biology, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
Get access

Extract

Creep feeding enhances weaning weight (King et al., 1998) and may also enhance early post-weaning growth rate, both of which are positively correlated to subsequent performance (Miller et al., 1999). When preweaning feeds are offered, current practice in the UK is to feed either dry feed from day 14 to weaning or acidified milk replacer from days 3 to 18. Intakes of dry feed pre-weaning are generally low whereas liquid feeds are consumed more readily. Our objectives were 1) to offer creep feed as a gruel to test whether this would enhance intake of creep and provide an alternative to milk replacer, and 2) to provide all three forms of supplementary feeding together to determine whether this further increased performance. Piglets receiving no supplementary pre-weaning feed were the negative control.

Type
Poster Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2000

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

King, R.H., Boyce, J.M. and Dunshea, F.R. 1998. Effect of supplemental nutrients on the growth performance of sucking pigs. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 49: 883887.Google Scholar
Miller, H.M., Toplis, P. and Slade, R.D. 1999. Weaning weight and daily live weight gain in the week after weaning predict piglet performance. Manipulating Pig Production VII ed. Cranwell, P.D., APSA, Atwood, Victoria, Australia, in press.Google Scholar