Feed intake of the sow and playful creep feeding of piglets influence piglet behaviour and performance before and after weaning.

ABSTRACT: Creep feed intake is variable and may be partly homeostatically and exploratory driven. We studied effects of maternal feed restriction and a 'play-feeder' on piglet behaviour and performance. 37 Litters received creep feed in a conventional (CON) or play-feeder (PL) and their sows were full-fed (FF) or restrictedly-fed (RES). Eaters were determined via rectal swabs. At weaning (d24) four piglets from the same treatment were grouped (n?=?36 pens). RES hindered piglet growth by 41?g/d and enhanced time eating, creep feed intake and percentage of eaters at weaning versus FF. RES-PL had the largest proportion of moderate and good eaters. PL stimulated feeder exploration and attracted more piglets to the feeder than CON. Post-weaning, RES increased exploratory behaviours, feed intake between d0-5, and growth between d0-2, and reduced body lesions between d0-2 (within CON), drinking and ear biting. PL increased ingestive behaviours, feed intake and growth between d0-15, and BW at d15 post-weaning by 5%. PL also lowered the prevalence of watery diarrhoea, number of body lesions and piglets with ear (within FF) and tail (within RES) damage at d15 post-weaning. Treatments did not affect FCR. To conclude, RES and particularly PL (broader and for longer) result in less weaning-associated-problems.

SUBMITTER: Middelkoop A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6834851 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature