Effects of creep feed pellet diameter on suckling and nursery pig performance

Abstract

A total of 26 litters of pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 3.2 kg BW and 10-d of age) were used to evaluate the effects of creep feed pellet diameter on suckling pig and nursery growth performance. On d 10 of suckling, litters were allotted to 1 of 2 dietary treatments by parity and BW in a randomized complete block design with 13 replications per treatment. Starting on d 10 of lactation, pigs were fed common pelleted creep feed processed using either a 3.2 mm (small) or a 12.7 mm (large) die. Chromic oxide was included as a fecal marker and fecal swabs were taken on d 14, 17, and 21 to determine percentage of pigs consuming creep feed. On d 21, pigs were weaned and re-allotted to nursery treatments for 21-d and fed in 2 phases. Phase 1 (d 0 to 7 postweaning) treatment diets were the same diets fed during the suckling period with 50% of the pigs remaining on their previously allotted pellet diameter treatment and the other 50% of pigs were re-allotted to the opposite pellet diameter treatment in the nursery. A common meal form diet was fed from d 7 to 21 postweaning. During the suckling phase (d 10 to 21), litters of pigs fed the large creep pellet had decreased (P < 0.03) pre-weaning mortality (0 vs. 2.54%; SEM = 0.008) and increased (P < 0.05) ADFI from d 17 to 21 (30.8 vs. 17.6 g; SEM = 4.41). There were no significant differences in suckling pig BW gain (3.21 vs. 3.25 kg; SEM = 0.107, for small and large pellet treatments, respectively) or percentage of pigs consuming creep feed (58 vs. 59%; SEM = 0.008, for small and large pellet treatments, respectively). During the nursery phase, pigs fed a large nursery pellet, regardless of creep feed treatment, had increased (P < 0.01) ADFI from d 0 to 7 (138 vs. 153 g; SEM = 3.6). Pigs fed the large creep feed pellet, regardless of nursery pellet diameter, had improved (P < 0.03) ADG (67 vs. 50 g; SEM = 5.0) and G:F (0.452 vs. 0.334; SEM = 0.0349) from d 0 to 7 postweaning, as well as improved G:F overall (0.828 vs. 0.779; SEM = 0.0129). There were no significant differences in ADG or ADFI during the common or overall period. In summary, feeding a large creep feed pellet improved late suckling creep ADFI and nursery G:F, while feeding a large nursery pellet increased ADFI during the first week in the nursery.