The effect of pellet diameter on the performance of young pigs

Edge, H.L.; Dalby, James; Rowlinson, Peter; Varley, M. A.

doi:10.1016/j.livprodsci.2005.04.009

Cited by 16 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Pellets of small size (2.4 mm in diameter) appear to be particularly beneficial for feed intake in weaned pigs, resulting in improved performance over pellets of larger size (3.2 mm in diameter) and crumbs (Patridge, 1989). However, in the studies of Traylor et al (1996) and Edge et al (2005), the pellet diameter had no effect on feed intake and growth rate.…”

Section: Physical Form Of Diets and Feeding Practicementioning

confidence: 84%

The Low Feed Intake in Newly-weaned Pigs: Problems and Possible Solutions

Dong¹,

Pluske²

2007

Asian Australas. J. Anim. Sci

120

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:The low feed intake immediately after weaning is responsible for villous atrophy and reduced growth rate in newlyweaned pigs. Overcoming this drawback will produce beneficial results for swine producers, and this warrants an understanding of the factors affecting the feed intake in newly-weaned pigs. In fact, a plethora of factors exert influences on feed intake in newly-weaned pigs, and these factors encompass health status, creep feeding, weaning age, mixing of litters, environment, dietary nutrient level and balance, palatability of ingredients, forms of diet presentation, water supply and quality, and stockmanship. Due to the complexity of the factors that affect the feed intake of weaned pigs, a comprehensive approach should be adopted to overcome the low feed intake problem right after weaning. It warrants mention that it is almost impossible to completely restore the feed intake just after weaning to preweaning level in terms of energy intake through dietary means which are available for being practiced economically and/or technically in current swine production. However, a refined dietary regime will certainly alleviate the low feed intake problem in the immediate postweaning period.

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Section: Physical Form Of Diets and Feeding Practicementioning

confidence: 84%

The Low Feed Intake in Newly-weaned Pigs: Problems and Possible Solutions

Dong¹,

Pluske²

2007

Asian Australas. J. Anim. Sci

120

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“…Commercial pellet sizes for piglet creep feed are typically 3 mm or less, in line with the general opinion that smaller diameter pellets promote feed intake in young pigs (e.g., Edge et al, 2005). However, larger feed particles, as commonly ingested in nature, may be more attractive for piglets (A'Ness et al, 1997;Edge et al, 2005). Both 5-mm diameter pellets (Edge et al, 2005) and feed in the form of large sow rolls (A'Ness et al, 1997) resulted in more feeder-directed exploratory behavior compared to feed with a smaller size.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…In attempting to stimulate feed intake in young piglets, most studies focused on feed composition (e.g., Fraser et al, 1994;Pajor et al, 2002;Sulabo et al, 2010b), whereas much less is known about the potential effects of physical feed characteristics. Commercial pellet sizes for piglet creep feed are typically 3 mm or less, in line with the general opinion that smaller diameter pellets promote feed intake in young pigs (e.g., Edge et al, 2005). However, larger feed particles, as commonly ingested in nature, may be more attractive for piglets (A'Ness et al, 1997;Edge et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Effects of pellet diameter during and after lactation on feed intake of piglets pre- and postweaning1

Brand

Wamsteeker

Oostindjer

et al. 2014

Journal of Animal Science

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Effects of 2 pellet diameters for piglets pre- and postweaning on feed intake, BW, and feed-related behavior were studied in 3 experiments. In Exp. 1, 19 litters were provided with pellets of 2 and 12 mm in diameter in a choice-feeding setup from d 4 of lactation onward. From d 4 to 18, piglets preferred the 12-mm diameter pellet over the 2-mm diameter pellet (519 vs. 168 g/pen; P < 0.001). In Exp. 2, 39 litters were provided with creep feed of either 2- or 10-mm diameter pellets. Feed intake from d 3 to 17 was higher in litters provided the 10-mm diameter pellet than the 2-mm diameter pellet (1,752 vs. 1,101 g/pen; P < 0.001). Piglet BW at weaning did not differ between treatments. Treatment × day of lactation interactions were found for time spent eating, interest in eating, and time spent suckling. Time spent eating and interest in eating increased with time. This increase was lower in the litters provided with the 10-mm diameter pellet. Time spent suckling remained the same in litters provided with 2-mm diameter pellets but decreased in time in litters provided the 10-mm diameter pellets. Experiment 3 was set up as a 2 × 2 factorial design with pellet diameter both pre- and postweaning as factors. During lactation, 18 litters were provided creep feed of either 2 or 12 mm in pellet diameter. At weaning, each litter was split into 2 comparable half litters and each half litter was provided with feed of 2 or 12 mm in diameter. Feed intake was higher in the 12-mm diameter pellet litters than in the 2-mm ones from d 4 to 11 of lactation (P < 0.01). Pellet diameter provided after weaning did not affect BW gain or feed intake. Piglets provided the 12-mm diameter pellet before weaning, however, had a higher BW gain (2,060 vs. 2,606 g/pig; P = 0.003) and feed intake (2,772 vs. 3,173 g/pig; P = 0.04) and a lower feed conversion ratio (P = 0.03) between d 0 and 10 after weaning than piglets provided the 2-mm diameter pellet before weaning. Postweaning pellet diameter had no effect on BW gain or feed intake. Behavior was not affected by pellet diameter pre- and postweaning. We conclude that young piglets (<18 d of age) prefer pellets with a large diameter compared to very small pellets, as currently used in practice. Feed intake and BW gain after weaning were higher in piglets provided with a large pellet diameter during lactation, possibly due to the higher creep feed intake in early lactation.

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“…Providing piglets with dietary novelty, such as different flavours of creep feed that are presented in a daily sequential order, can increase preweaning feed intake and postweaning growth (Adeleye et al, in press). Many of these adaptations, however, only resulted in small increases in food intake, with persistent between-animal variation (for example: McLaughlin et al, 1983;Appleby et al, 1992;Edge et al, 2004Edge et al, , 2005Wattanakul et al, 2005).…”

Section: Optimizing Feed and Feedersmentioning

confidence: 99%