The Effect of Feeding Liquid or Dry Creep Feed on Growth Performance, Feed Disappearance, Enzyme Activity and Number of Eaters in Suckling Piglets

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 11; p. 3144
• Main Authors: Byrgesen, Nanna, Madsen, Johannes Gulmann, Larsen, Christina, Kjeldsen, Niels Jørgen, Cilieborg, Malene Skovsted, Amdi, Charlotte
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 04.11.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Body weight; Cotton; Diarrhea; Diet; Digestive system; dry creep feed; Dry matter; eaters and non-eaters; Enzymatic activity; Enzyme activity; Enzymes; feed intake; Ferric oxide; Gastrointestinal system; Hogs; Intestine; Lactase; liquid creep feed; Maturation; Mucosa; Nutrients; Physical growth; Small intestine; Suckling behavior; Swine; Vegetables; Weaning; Zinc oxide; Denmark
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani11113144

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of two dietary treatments (liquid creep feed (LCF) and dry creep feed (DCF)) offered during the suckling period on feed disappearance, number of eaters, and intestinal enzymatic development at weaning in an on-farm study with 347 piglets. Piglets were allocated to either the DCF or LCF treatment from day 10 to day 24 postpartum for 9 h a day. Red ferric oxide (1%) was added to the diet to categorize piglets into eating categories (good eaters, moderate eaters, or non-eaters) via faecal swabs. At weaning, 40 piglets were sampled for intestinal enzymatic development. The LCF treatment increased the dry matter disappearance from day 10–18 (p < 0.001). The percentage of good eaters, moderate eaters and non-eaters did not differ between treatments (p > 0.05). The DCF pigs displayed greater average daily gain (ADG) pre-weaning (p = 0.024), and a greater body weight (BW) at day 61 (p < 0.001). The activity of lactase, maltase and sucrase in the proximal part of the small intestine were greatest (p < 0.001) in the DCF pigs.