Creep feeding and post weaning diarrhoea in piglets
Miller, B.G.; Newby, T.J.; Stokes, C.R.; Bourne, F.J.
Veterinary Record 114(12): 296-297
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 6719775 Document Number: 236894
The results are described from a farm that adopted an abrupt weaning system to control diarrhoea in pigs weaned at 3 weeks. The farm was a 100-sow unit sending all progeny to slaughter at about 70 kg. Herd mortality in the post-weaning period averaged 4.9% and was predominantly associated with diarrhoea. Prophylactic antibiotics were used throughout the pre-trial period. After the introduction of an abrupt weaning system post-weaning mortality fell to 1.3% and it was possible to withdraw prophylactic antibiotics. In a split trial with 24 sows where the progeny were either creep fed before weaning or abruptly weaned, no significant differences were found in weaning weight, in the weight at slaughter, or the number of days to slaughter. The authors recommend that at this stage abrupt weaning should not be practised where conventional creep feeding is successful, but provides a new approach when a post-weaning diarrhoea problem is encountered.