Pelleting of diet for weaning pigs of different initial weights

Abstract

Physical form effect of the pre-starter diet supplied during the post-weaning period from 21 to 41 days of age on diet digestibility and animal performance in terms of zootechnical performances of light-weight (5.82kg) and heavy-weight weaning piglets (6.32kg) was evaluated, as well as the residual effects of the treatments until slaughter. Forty-eight female pigs at 21 days of age were evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2x2 factorial scheme (meal/pelleted diet vs. light-weight/heavy-weight piglets), with six replicates for the nursery phase and 12 replicates for the growing-finishing phases. Animals received the experimental diet from 21 to 41 days of age. Data were analyzed with ANOVA, setting the significance in 5%. Feeding with the pelleted diet resulted in a 39% greater daily weight gain and a 28% greater feed conversion rate for piglets from weaning to 40 days of age. Pelleting also resulted in a decrease in feed wastage during the first week after weaning (9.15% for meal diet vs. 1.68% for pelleted diet) and; consequently, the results showed an increase in feed consumption. Digestible energy of the pelleted diet (3,626kcal kg-1) was greater than that of the meal diet (3,424kcal kg-1). The physical form improved the performance of weaning pigs and the digestibility of the pre-starter diet, but there wasn't residual effect of the physical form and the weight of a piglet at weaning on live weight at slaughter.

Granulometria e processamento em dietas para leitões dos 23 aos 71 dias de idade

“…In the period from 23 to 51 days, we observed that the processed diets (FP and CP) when compared to the diets (FM and CM) provided, on average, higher W51 (18.09 x 16.52 kg) and ADG (0.409 x 0.353 kg), respectively. Similarly, Surek et al (2017) found a significant effect of weight in up to 56 days (P<0.01), evidencing that the best productive performance attributed to the treatments submitted to pressure and heat conditions is in line with the benefits of pelleting (Wolf, Rust and Kamphues, 2010). On the other hand, there were no differences (P>0.05) for the ADFI and FCR variables.…”

“…In addition, the feed processing may have allowed greater exposure of the particles to the action of temperature and steam, making the nutrients more digestible and thus allowing better utilization by the piglets (Bao et al, 2016). However, for the W37, ADG and ADFI variables, no significant differences were observed (P>0.05) regarding the effect of the processing, differing from the results found by Surek et al (2017) in which pelletisation provided better ADG and FCR during the first week after weaning.…”