Litter sizes on commercial pig farms have increased in the past number of decades. To support these large litters, creep feeding suckling piglets with a dry pelleted starter diet is commonly practiced on commercial farms, but creep feed intake can be low and variable. Increasing creep feed intake should increase pre-weaning growth and better prepare pigs for weaning. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of creep feeding with dry pelleted starter diet vs. a liquid mixture of milk replacer and starter diet in sub-standard vs. optimal hygiene conditions on lifetime feed intake, growth and medication usage, and post-weaning intestinal health. The liquid mixture of milk replacer and starter diet increased weaning weight and intestinal maturity, and reduced pre-weaning mortality compared to dry pelleted starter diet. Pigs born into optimal hygiene conditions had increased creep feed intake, reduced pre-weaning medication usage, improved intestinal structure, and reduced weaning to slaughter duration compared to pigs born into sub-standard hygiene conditions. In conclusion, feed intake and growth in suckling piglets can be increased by feeding a liquid mixture of milk replacer and starter diet in optimal hygiene conditions.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.