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December 2016 27
Pork News & Views
pellets, and comparable body weights
throughout the nursery phase. In Barn
2, piglets offered the large pellets tended
to have higher gains and were moving
towards higher body weights at d28
post-weaning. We observed no post-
weaning growth lag in Barn 2, but large
pellet pigs increased their weight more
rapidly immediately post-weaning than
those offered small pellets.
Additionally, piglets spent time explor-
ing and playing with the large pellets in
the farrowing crates. The large pel-
lets acted as a form of enrichment for
the piglets, and allowed them to learn
to consume feed in a social setting.
Because the piglets like to pick up the
pellets and play with them prior to
consuming them, it will be important
to make sure that your slat size will not
let the pellets fall through in order to
obtain maximum benefits from feeding
large pellets.
In this field trial we chose to feed the
pellets in both the farrowing room and
for 7 days post-weaning in the nursery.
As discussed in my previous article on
creep feeding, maintaining the same
feed immediately post-weaning is im-
portant to help piglets cope at the time
of weaning. Depending on the floor-
ing in your nursery, it may be a better
option for you to switch to the mini
sized pellet (of the same feed) at wean-
ing, which will help prevent feed loss
through the slats.
For detailed information on the large
pellet creep feed please contact Daco
Animal Nutrition or Masterfeeds.
For further information on the field
trial, creep feeding and other strategies
to help get your piglets off to a better
start, contact:
Laura Eastwood
Swine Specialist, OMAFRA
laura.eastwood@ontario.ca519-271-6280
Whether you’re hiring or job seeking,
visit
http://pork.agrijobmatch.catoday!
For employers:
Table 2: Barn 2 results.
Small Pellets
Large Pellets Significant (Y/N) Difference
1
Farrowing Room
Creep Intake (g/litter/d)
Week 1
30
80
Y
50
Week 2
130
230
Y
100
Average
100
210
Y
110
Average Piglet Weight (kg)
Birth
2
1.41
1.38
N
Weaning (~21 d)
6.18
6.39
N
Gain (birth to wean)
4.75
5.02
N
Nursery
Feed Intake (g/pig)
Wean to 2d post-wean
220
280
Y
60
d2 to d7 post-wean
650
1060
Y
410
Wean to d7 post-wean
870
1340
Y
470
Average Piglet Weight (kg)
Weaning
6.18
6.39
N
2d post-wean
6.33
6.97
N
7d post-wean
6.57
7.30
N
28d post-wean
14.05
15.43
N
Average Piglet Gain (kg)
d2 to d7 post-wean
0.24
0.33
Y
0.09
d2 to d28 post-wean
7.49
8.13
N
d7 to d28 post-wean
7.73
8.46
N
1
Difference calculated as large pellet value minus small pellet value when significance was deter-
mined.
2
Creep feed treatments were not offered until 1 week after birth.
Figure 3: Piglet weights at weaning, 2d and 7d post-weaning showing no post-weaning
growth lag in Barn 2 regardless of diet; however, large pellet pigs had greater increases in
gain over this time period.
48hr Post-Weanging
d7 Post-Weanging
7.5
7.0
6.5
6.0
5.5
5.0
4.5
4.0
Piglet Weight (kg)
Large Pellets
Small Pellets
Weaning