Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences (Dec 2018)

Effects of different creep feed types on pre-weaning and post-weaning performance and gut development

  • Pil Seung Heo,
  • Dong Hyuk Kim,
  • Jae Cheol Jang,
  • Jin Su Hong,
  • Yoo Yong Kim

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.17.0844
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 31, no. 12
pp. 1956 – 1962

Abstract

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Objective This experiment was carried out to determine the effects of different creep feed types on suckling performance and further adjustments to solid feed after weaning. Methods A total of 24 multiparous sows and their litters were allotted to one of three treatment groups: i) provided highly digestible creep feed (Creep), ii) provided a pig weaning diet (Weaner), and iii) provided sow feed (Sow) as creep feed until weaning. After weaning, a total of 96 piglets were selected for evaluation of post-weaning performance. Results For pre-weaning performance, the Creep treatment led to a significantly higher feed intake from 14 to 28 d (p<0.05) and higher body weight gain from 21 to 28 d than piglets that were provided other diets. However, after weaning, the Weaner treatment yielded a significantly higher feed intake and average daily gain than other treatments from 0 to 14 d after weaning (p<0.05); Creep treatment tended to generate lower villus heights in the duodenum than the other treatments (p = 0.07). Conclusion Highly digestible creep feed improved pre-weaning performance, but feed familiarity and grain-based creep feed improved post-weaning performance.

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