The impact of post-weaning feeding strategies on feed consumption and body weight variation in pigs

Abstract

At weaning, piglets experience stress due to various changes. Adequate post-weaning feed intake is crucial for optimal growth. Pre-starter feed may facilitate this transition. Feeding strategies were used to test the following hypotheses: 1) use of the same type of feed bowl for pre-starter feed in both farrowing pen and nursery enhances piglet performance; 2) liquid pre-starter provided post-weaning positively impacts piglet performance; and 3) these feeding strategies may have long-lasting effects on performance and carcass quality.

In two experiments, all piglets received pre-starter feed in a bowl in the farrowing pen. After weaning, piglets from one litter were split over two treatments.

In Experiment 1 (120 piglets, 26 pens), piglets received either 1) ad libitum weaning feed in a standard nursery feeder plus ad libitum pre-starter in the familiar farrowing bowl during the first week after weaning (two-feeder) or 2) ad libitum weaning feed after a fixed volume of pre-starter in a standard nursery feeder (one-feeder). One-feeder piglets therefore had to consume all pre-starter before accessing the weaning feed, while two-feeder piglets could choose between feeds at the same time. Two-feeder piglets consumed less pre-starter (77 vs. 125 g/d) but more weaning feed (188 vs. 68 g/d) and total feed (266 vs. 193 g/d) during the first week post-weaning. However, their gain-to-feed ratio was lower (0.47 vs. 0.60 kg/kg). In the following week, the two-feeder group showed slower weight gain (209 vs. 239 g/d) and tended to consume less feed (302 vs. 346 g/d/piglet) compared to the one-feeder group.

In Experiment 2 (164 piglets, 32 pens), during the first week post-weaning all piglets received pre-starter in the same type of bowl as in the farrowing pen, either as dry feed or liquid feed, with weaning feed presented to all piglets in the standard nursery feeder. Pens with liquid pre-starter consumed more pre-starter (64 vs. 26 g/d) and total feed (170 vs. 134 g/d) and showed lower weight variation (15.7 vs. 18.4 %) during the first week post-weaning. However, a lower gain-to-feed ratio (0.88 vs. 0.90 kg/kg) was observed for pens with liquid pre-starter over the first five weeks post-weaning. Furthermore, the average daily gain (370 vs. 317 g/d) during the second week post-weaning was higher with liquid pre-starter.

In summary, both feeding strategies impact post-weaning performance. Liquid pre-starter increased feed intake, body weight uniformity and growth performance short term, but reduced feed efficiency. Despite short term effects post-weaning, no significant long term effects on performance were observed.