Characterization of creep feeding and its subsequent effects on immune response, scouring index, and performance of weanling pigs

Four trials were conducted to examine the pattern of creep feed consumption of nursing pigs and the effect of creep feeding - from 10 d to weaning at 28 d - a 20% crude protein corn-soybean meal and dried whole whey diet (REG, 9 litters) containing 1.0% chromic oxide for detection of creep feed consumption, or the same diet with 2.7% ovalbumin (OVA) added as a dietary antigen (14 litters), or no creep feed (CON, 11 litters) on the immune response, scouring index, and subsequent performance of weanling pigs. All nursing pigs were denied access to sow feeders but had water ad libitum. At weaning, pigs were fed either a 20% corn-soybean meal diet, with or without 2.7% OVA. Creep-fed litters began eating at 11 d of age and disappearance of creep feed increased linearly until weaning (P < .01). However, the presence of chromic oxide in the feces was not consistently observed in the same pigs thus suggesting that creep consumption by individual pigs was quite variable. Average feed consumption based on total creep disappearance per litter was 13 to 194 g/pig preweaning. Daily gain and body weight of nursing pigs was similar during the first 4 wk. Pigs from larger litters had lower birth weights (P < .05), lower 4 wk body weights (P < .09) and daily gains (P < .09), as well as less feed disappearance per pig (P < .02). Pigs fed the OVA diet had higher (P > .001) antibody titers to OVA than did pigs receiving the REG or CON treatments at 14, 21, or 28 d of age. At 56 d and 63 d, all pigs given an OVA injection (at 49 d 1 ml of 3 mg/ml OVA) responded, (P < . 001) with the lowest titers for REG pigs, intermediate for CON pigs, and the highest for OVA pigs during the nursery phase. Scouring began 4 to 5 d postweaning with creep-fed pigs scouring slightly more. Feed consumption, although not statistically different, was higher (P = .18) during the first week postweaning for CON pigs and was consistent throughout the study, but daily gains and feed efficiency were similar. In summary, creep feed disappearance begins increases linearly until weaning with no effect on cumulative daily gain or body weight. While larger litters consume more total feed, smaller litters consume more feed per pig. Creep feeding had some effect on antibody response and scouring our results suggest little apparent effect on postweaning performance.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Animal Science

Department dc:contributor.department

Animal Science

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1988

Author dc:creator

• Barnett, Kimberly L.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/80091

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/80091