Wensley MR, Tokach MD, Woodworth JC, Goodband RD, Gebhardt JT, DeRouchey JM, McKilligan D. Maintaining continuity of nutrient intake after weaning. II. Review of post-weaning strategies.
Transl Anim Sci 2021;
5:txab022. [PMID:
34841202 PMCID:
PMC8611789 DOI:
10.1093/tas/txab022]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Low feed consumption during the first 3 d post-weaning disrupts nutrient intake and
results in what is commonly known as a post-weaning growth check. While most pigs recover
from this initial reduction in feed intake (FI), some pigs fail to successfully make this
transition leading to morbidity and mortality. In this review, our objective is to
describe the different post-weaning strategies that can be used to minimize nutrient
intake disruption and improve FI in the immediate post-weaning period. Providing weanling
pigs with an environment that encourages them to search out and consume feed is important.
This includes appropriate barn temperatures, resource availability, and nursery placement
strategies. Research is needed to better understand the ideal environmental temperatures
to encourage pen exploration and reduce time to initial FI. Likewise, mat and gruel
feeding are commonly practiced throughout the industry to increase feed accessibility;
however, limited research data is available to validate protocols or benefits. Nursery
placement strategies include sorting light weight pigs into uniform body weight groups and
average or heavy weight pigs into variable body weight groups to provide benefit to light
pigs while reducing initial aggression in heavy pigs. Furthermore, water enrichment with
nutrient dense products have been shown to improve growth performance and reduce morbidity
and mortality in the early post-weaning period. Because young pigs are sensitive to
palatability, diet form and complexity should also be considered. Weanling pigs prefer
diets manufactured with coarse ground corn (700 μm) compared to fine ground corn.
Additionally, weanling pigs are more attracted to large diameter pellets (12 mm) compared
with small pellets. Despite these preferences, impacts on growth are relatively small.
Feeding complex diets with high levels of lactose, animal protein products, or other
palatable ingredients is another strategy shown to improve growth performance during the
first week post-weaning; however, the initial benefits quickly diminished as pigs become
older. Other strategies that warrant further investigation include the effect of crumble
diets on feed preference and the concept of perinatal or social interaction flavor
learning. In summary, strategic post-weaning nutrition and management practices must focus
on maintaining continuity of nutrient intake in order to reduce morbidity and mortality in
the immediate post-weaning period.
Collapse