The effects of an altered suckling method (ALT) on nursery pig performance were
studied in a 14-d experiment encompassing late lactation and the early nursery period.
A total of 611 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050) nursing 54 sows were used in 2 farrowing groups.
Sows were allotted to treatments on d 18 of lactation when all but the 5 lightest-weight
pigs from each ALT litter were split-weaned (SW) and moved to the nursery. The
lightweight pigs in the ALT litters were paired within parity group such that two litters
were combined. These combined litters rotationally suckled (RS) each sow of the pair
for 12 h/d from d 18 until weaning on d 25. Pigs in control litters were weaned on d 21.
At weaning, pigs were randomly assigned to pens (7 pigs/pen). All weaned pigs received
a common feed budget of 4 lb of Phase 1 followed by a Phase 2 diet. Pigs were weighed
on d 18, 21, 25, 28, and 32 of age. Differences in weight gain, variation in growth within
litter, and the association between piglet weight category on d 18 and treatment effects
were evaluated. An interaction was detected (P < 0.01) for pig weights and weight
gain from d 18 to 32 because the RS pigs gained 15% more than lightweight controls,
whereas SW pigs were 15% lighter than heavyweight controls on d 32. Overall variation
as measured by the changes in CV and SD was 50% less (P < 0.01) within ALT litters
compared with controls. When pig weight groups were compared, the ALT treatment
benefited (P < 0.001) growth of light (<10 lb) pigs but decreased (P < 0.01) the weight
gain of heavy (>14 lb) pigs. Overall, performance was similar between ALT and control
pigs, but the apparent improvement in weight variation observed within ALT litters
warrants additional investigation.
