Effects of intermittent suckling and creep feed intake on pig performance from birth to slaughter1

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine if the improved creep feed intake observed during intermittent suckling (IS) is important for postweaning performance. Therefore, creep feed intake of litters was assessed, and within litters, eaters and noneaters were distinguished using chromic oxide as an indigestible marker. Batches of sows were suckled intermittently (IS, 7 batches; n = 31) or continuously (control, 7 batches; n = 31). In the IS group, litters were separated from the sow for a period of 12 h/d (0930 to 2130), beginning 11 d before weaning. Litters were weaned at 4 wk of age. Litters had free access to creep feed from 1 wk of age onward. Five days after weaning, the piglets were moved as a litter to weanling pens. At 8 wk of age, 2 barrows and 2 gilts were randomly chosen from each litter and moved to a finishing facility. Feed intake was improved by IS during the last 11 d of lactation (IS, 284 +/- 27 vs. control, 83 +/- 28 g/piglet; P < 0.001) and after weaning during the first (IS, 201 +/- 24 vs. control, 157 +/- 25 g x piglet(-1) x d(-1); P < 0.05) and second (IS, 667 +/- 33 vs. control, 570 +/- 35 g x piglet(-1) x d(-1); P < 0.05) wk. Thereafter, no differences were found to slaughter. Weaning BW was lower in IS litters (IS, 7.1 +/- 0.01 vs. control, 8.1 +/- 0.01 kg/piglet; P < 0.05), but 7 d after weaning BW was similar (IS, 8.5 +/- 0.2 vs. control, 8.7 +/- 0.2 kg/piglet; P = 0.18), and no differences were found to slaughter. The percentage of eaters within a litter was not increased by IS during lactation (IS, 23 +/- 4.5% vs. control, 19 +/- 4.1%; P = 0.15). Weaning BW did not differ between eaters and noneaters (eater, 7.7 +/- 0.1 vs. noneater, 7.5 +/- 0.08 kg/piglet; P = 0.63). From 1 until 4 wk after weaning, piglets that were eaters during lactation had heavier BW than noneaters (eater, 20.3 +/- 0.3 kg vs. noneater, 18.2 +/- 0.2 kg; P < 0.05). The influence of eating creep feed during lactation on BW and ADG and the influence of suckling treatment never showed an interaction. We conclude that IS increases ADFI during lactation on a litter level and improves ADG in the first week and ADFI in the first and second weeks after weaning. No long-term effects on ADFI or ADG were observed throughout the finishing period. In the current experiment, in which creep feed intake was low, the percentage of eaters within a litter was not increased, suggesting that creep feed intake of piglets that were already eating was stimulated by IS. Further, piglets that were eaters during lactation had heavier BW up to 4 wk after weaning.

Invited review: Aspects of gastrointestinal tract growth and maturation in the pre- and postweaning period of pigs

“…Data, therefore, generally support the notion that enhanced familiarity with solid food at weaning causes the weanling pig to focus more on feed intake and less on exploratory behavior (Bruininx et al, 2002). Other studies (e.g., Kuller et al, 2004Kuller et al, , 2007Pluske et al, 2007;Collins et al, 2013), in which pigs were categorized into eaters and noneaters of creep feed, have generally (Burrin and Stoll, 2003).…”

“…The majority of studies with IS show an abrupt, initial reduction in growth rate in lactation associated with its implementation due simply to the associated reduction in milk intake from the sow (Thompson et al, 1981;Kuller et al, 2004Kuller et al, , 2007Berkeveld et al, 2007bBerkeveld et al, , 2009. This reduction in growth, however, is less than that observed when piglets are weaned conventionally and is compensated for in the first week after weaning, with pigs subjected to IS in lactation displaying greater feed intake and faster growth (Kuller et al, 2004(Kuller et al, , 2007Berkeveld et al, 2007b).…”

“…This reduction in growth, however, is less than that observed when piglets are weaned conventionally and is compensated for in the first week after weaning, with pigs subjected to IS in lactation displaying greater feed intake and faster growth (Kuller et al, 2004(Kuller et al, , 2007Berkeveld et al, 2007b). Berkeveld et al (2009) investigated a daily piglet separation of 10 h for 1 or 2 wk with weaning at d 26 or d 33 and reported a marked diminution in the postweaning growth check with the extended lactation.…”

Effects of intermittent suckling on body composition of Iberian piglets weaned at 35 days of age

“…In assays studying effects of IS on conventional porcine breeds, access to the sow was drastically limited during 10 or 12 h from the onset of the treatment (Berkeveld et al, 2007 andKuller et al, 2007). In the current study, separation from the dam was progressively imposed, increasing the number of hours per day from 6 to 10, to overcome the negative effects of transition to a non-milk diet.…”

“…However, creep feed intake is usually low and highly variable among suckling piglets (Pajor et al, 1991). It is generally accepted that the separation of sows and piglets during a period of the day in the second half of lactation (intermittent suckling (IS)) stimulates preweaning feed intake and enhances performance shortly after weaning (Berkeveld et al, 2007;Kuller et al, 2007).…”