Effect of early weaning, split-weaning and nursery feeding programmes on the growth of Landrace x Desi pigs

Trop Anim Health Prod. 2004 Aug;36(6):599-608. doi: 10.1023/b:trop.0000040933.28759.1c.

Abstract

An experiment using 164 crossbred pigs born to 20 first-parity sows was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of piglets in four weaning management regimens: T1, conventional weaning at 56 days; T2, early weaning at 28 days; T3, split-weaning of the heavier half of the litter at day 28, the remaining half being weaned at 56 days; and T4, split-weaning of the lighter half of the litter at 28 days, with the animals kept on a special nutrient diet up to 56 days, and the heavier half being weaned at 56 days. Split-weaning of the lighter half in combination with feeding a special nutrient diet resulted in an increase of average daily gain of 21% from day 28 to day 140 compared to conventional weaning and of 36% compared to early weaning at day 28. Compared to the control (T1), the average weights of piglets at the 140th day in groups T4 and T3 were 19.6% and 6.16%, respectively, higher, whereas that of the T2 was 8% lower. It is concluded that feeding a special nutrient diet to lighter pigs is beneficial in overcoming the post-weaning lag and enables maximal weight gain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Body Weight
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Diet
  • Female
  • Random Allocation
  • Swine / genetics
  • Swine / growth & development*
  • Tropical Climate
  • Weaning*