Intermittent suckling: Effects on piglet and sow performance before and after weaning1

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study effects of intermittent suckling on creep feed intake and weight gain of litters. Loss of weight and backfat during lactation, as well as reproductive performance, were also measured. Batches of multiparous sows (Parity 1 to 12, 4.1 on average) were either suckled intermittently (IS, eight batches; n = 50) or continuously (control, eight batches; n = 62). Litters were weaned at 27 +/- 2 d of age, on average. Litter size (11.1 +/- 0.2 piglets, on average) was standardized within a batch within 3 d of birth. All litters had free access to creep feed and water from 1 wk of age onward. In the IS group, litters were separated from the sow for a period of 12 h/d (0930 to 2130), starting 11 d before weaning. Rectal ultrasonography was applied at d 3 after weaning to check the ovaries for follicle development or presence of corpora lutea. Creep feed intake by the litters during lactation was higher in IS litters than in control litters (686 +/- 57 vs. 314 +/- 42 g/piglet, P < 0.01). The distribution of creep feed intake shifted from a skewed one, with a majority of litters consuming less than 250 g/piglet in control litters, to a normal distribution, with an average creep feed intake of 500 to 750 g/piglet in IS litters. During the 7 d after weaning, creep feed intake in IS litters was also higher (281 +/- 15 vs. 204 +/- 9 g-piglet(-1) x d(-1), P < 0.01). The ADG of piglets during lactation was negatively affected by IS, resulting in lower weight at weaning (7,229 +/- 140 vs. 7,893 +/- 145 g/piglet, P < 0.05). During the 7 d after weaning, however, ADG was higher in IS litters (255 +/- 10 vs. 177 +/- 8 g-piglet-1 x d(-1), P < 0.01), and 7 d after weaning, the weights of the litters were similar (9,011 +/- 167 vs. 9,132 +/- 164 g/ piglet, P = 0.81). The IS litters that consumed little or no feed during lactation had an ADG after lactation that was higher than in control litters, with comparable creep feed intake during lactation: 204 vs. 136 g/d. Body weight loss by the sows during lactation was lower in IS sows (-10 +/- 2 vs. -16 +/- 1 kg, P < 0.05). A higher percentage of IS sows ovulated during lactation (22 vs. 3%, P < 0.01), and weaning-to-ovulation interval (excluding sows with lactational ovulation) was shorter in IS sows (4.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 5.3 +/- 0.2 d, P < 0.05). We conclude that IS increased creep feed intake during lactation, and that IS increased ADG after weaning, despite lower weaning weights. Ovulation during lactation was induced in 22% of the IS sows.

Increasing weaning age of piglets from 4 to 7 weeks reduces stress, increases post-weaning feed intake but does not improve intestinal functionality

“…When creep feed intake is achieved by intermittent suckling, net fluid absorption improves (Nabuurs et al, 1996;Kuller et al, 2007). In our study, the net fluid intake was not improved by creep feed, probably as a consequence of the low level of creep feed intake compared with creep feed intake by intermittent suckling (Kuller et al, 2004). The reduced net fluid absorption in ETEC-infected segments, especially 4 and 7 days after weaning, represents the greater sensitivity of weaned piglets compared with suckling piglets to ETEC-induced diarrhoea (Nabuurs et al, 1994).…”

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

“…Assuming a conversion of milk to ADG of 0.142 , a similar intake for IS and CS piglets of 716 and 711 g/day, respectively, was derived. Consequently, under the conditions of this study, milk intake did not seem to be reduced in the IS piglets, as reported by other authors (Kuller et al, 2004). When the Iberian piglets were exclusively suckled for 34 days, the average growth rate was 168 g/day , a value close to that found for the CS piglets in the current assay, although lower than 199 g/day observed for IS piglets, which reinforce the positive effect of the IS treatment on pre-weaning growth performance.…”

“…Moreover, all litters on IS had a cumulative total feed intake before weaning >600 g/piglet, an amount that can improve postweaning performance (English, 1980), whereas four of 10 CS litters did not attain this recommended quantity. Previous studies have also shown greater creep feed intake during lactation in the IS piglets with a 12 h/day separation period compared with conventionally weaned piglets, although high variability in creep feed intake was observed among animals (Kuller et al, 2004 andBerkeveld et al, 2007). When sows and piglets were separated for shorter periods, such as 10 h/day, from days 19 to 26 (Berkeveld et al, 2009) or 7 h/day, from days 14 to 28 (Millet et al, 2008) a lack of feed intake stimulation was observed.…”

“…This increased feed intake in the IS litters observed in the present study was also reflected in higher ADG during the IS period and higher BW at weaning. Other authors have reported reduced growth and BW of piglets at weaning (Kuller et al, 2004 andBerkeveld et al, 2009), suggesting that feed intake in the IS period might still be too small to compensate for the milk deficit caused by separation from the sow. When separation takes place for shorter periods (6 h/day), no negative effect on weight gain was observed (Newton et al, 1987).…”

Efeitos do fornecimento de dietas pré-desmame para leitões: uma revisão

“…Este manejo foi testado como estratégia para aumentar o consumo de creep feed. Kuller et al (2004) O consumo de dietas de alta qualidade na fase inicial pode resultar em aumento do peso no pós-desmame, mas ainda não há evidências significativas de que o consumo de creep feed facilite ou acelere o processo de adaptação ao desmame (FraSer et al, 1993). É possível que a oferta de creep feed de alta qualidade e palatabilidade estimule o leitão ao consumo, familiarizando o animal ao alimento e diminuindo a manifestação do comportamento exploratório durante o pós-desmame (bruininX et al, 2002).…”