Effect of early weaning, split-weaning and nursery feeding programmes on the growth of Landrace x Desi pigs.
An experiment using 164 crossbred pigs born to 20 first-parity sows was conducted to evaluate the growth performance of piglets in four weaning management regimens: T1, conventional weaning at 56 days; T2, early weaning at 28 days; T3, split-weaning of the heavier half of the litter at day 28, the remaining half being weaned at 56 days; and T4, split-weaning of the lighter half of the litter at 28 days, with the animals kept on a special nutrient diet up to 56 days, and the heavier half being weaned at 56 days. Split-weaning of the lighter half in combination with feeding a special nutrient diet resulted in an increase of average daily gain of 21% from day 28 to day 140 compared to conventional weaning and of 36% compared to early weaning at day 28. Compared to the control (T1), the average weights of piglets at the 140th day in groups T4 and T3 were 19.6% and 6.16%, respectively, higher, whereas that of the T2 was 8% lower. It is concluded that feeding a special nutrient diet to lighter pigs is beneficial in overcoming the post-weaning lag and enables maximal weight gain.
Abraham
J
J
Sharon, Santhosh Nagar, Mannuthy, Thrissur 680651, Kerala, India.
Satyapaul
Chhabra
A K
AK
Chandrahas
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014886:Weaning