A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Creep Feeding Effects on Piglet Pre- and Post-Weaning Performance
Bruno B. D. Muro,
Rafaella F. Carnevale,
Matheus S. Monteiro,
Renjie Yao,
Felipe N. A. Ferreira,
Clarice S. S. Neta,
Francisco A. Pereira,
Dominiek Maes,
Geert P. J. Janssens,
Glen W. Almond,
Cesar A. P. Garbossa,
Tatiane T. N. Watanabe,
Diego F. Leal
Affiliations
Bruno B. D. Muro
Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil
Rafaella F. Carnevale
Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil
Matheus S. Monteiro
Nerthus Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento LTDA, São Carlos 13563-651, SP, Brazil
Renjie Yao
Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Felipe N. A. Ferreira
Agreceres Multimix Nutrição Animal LTDA, Rio Claro 13502-741, SP, Brazil
Clarice S. S. Neta
Agreceres Multimix Nutrição Animal LTDA, Rio Claro 13502-741, SP, Brazil
Francisco A. Pereira
Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil
Dominiek Maes
Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Geert P. J. Janssens
Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Glen W. Almond
Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University (NCSU), Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
Cesar A. P. Garbossa
Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil
Tatiane T. N. Watanabe
Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University (NCSU), Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
Diego F. Leal
Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil
In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the effects of providing piglets with creep feed during lactation on piglet pre- and post-weaning performance. A total of 20 articles met the inclusion criteria. Creep feeding in lactation improved pre-weaning piglet performance in 46% of the studies selected, while 58% of the included studies reported that creep feeding in lactation improved piglet performance during the nursery phase. Creep feeding increased the average piglet body weight (creep = 7.23 ± 0.30, no creep = 6.96 ± 0.31; p = 0.03) and litter weight (creep = 81.2 ± 4.18, no creep = 76.4 ± 4.22; p p p p = 0.003) the litter weight at weaning compared to litters not provided or provided for shorter periods with creep feed. The present work strengthened the notion that creep feeding during lactation presents opportunities for improving weaning weights and post-weaning piglet performance compared to litters not provided or provided for shorter periods with creep feed.
