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Feed Intake and Growth of Creep-fed Suckling Pigs
Thesis Abstract:
Eighteen crossbred sows and their litters were used to determine the performance of their baby pigs from 7 to 35 days of age when creep-fed with six (rations in a randomized complete block experiment arranged as a 2 x 3 factorial 2 levels of digestible energy 3,300 and 3,500 and 3 levels of protein 20, 22, and 24%).
The average weekly milk consumption, milk protein, and milk energy consumption of the baby pigs creep-fed 3.500 kcal of digestible energy was significantly (P<0.01) lower than those creep-fed with 3.300 keal of digestible energy.
The highest on milk yield was in the fourth week after farrowing.
The feed intake of the baby pigs provided with 3,500 kcal or digestible energy was significantly (P<0.05) lower than those provided with 3,300 kcal of digestible energy at two weeks of age. This was later reflected in very much lower feed intake from 7 to 35 days of age for pigs provided with 3,500 kcal digestible energy.
The creep ration contnbuted only 8 to 12 percent of the total protein intake of the pigs creep-fed with a ration of either 20, 22, or 24 percent. Thus, there were no differences in weight and final weight gains of the pigs creep-fed with any of these rations.
Feed efficiencies were not significantly affected by energy or protein level.
Serumn creatinine was significantly(P<0.05) lower in pigs provided with 3,500 kcal of digestible energy than those provided w'ith 3,300 kcal of digestible energy.
Protein and energy levels on the creep diet did not affect blood urea nitrogen, as indicated by interactions berween protein and energy levels.
As long as the baby pigs were nursing, it appeared that a creep diet containing 20 percent protein and 3,300 kcal of digestible energy would be adequate.