Addition of chromic oxide to creep feed as a fecal marker for selection of creep feed-eating suckling pigs.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the addition of chromic oxide (Cr(2)O(3)) to creep feed could be used as a visual marker in feces for selection of creep feed-eating suckling pigs.


METHODS
20 suckling pigs.


METHODS
Via syringe, 5 pigs (2 to 3 days old on day 0; 1 pig/treatment) from each of 4 litters received oral administrations of 10, 20, 30, or 40 g of creep feed containing 10 g of Cr(2)O(3)*kg(1) on each of 2 consecutive days (days 20 and 21) or 30 g of creep feed containing 10 g of Cr(2)O(3)*kg(1) on day 20 and 30 g of Cr(2)O(3)-free creep feed on day 21. On days 21 through 24, 6 fecal samples were collected from each pig at regular intervals between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Green-colored feces were considered indicative of creep feed consumption (eaters). Data analyses were based on single and multiple fecal samples.


RESULTS
On day 22, evaluation of 1 fecal sample/pig and multiple fecal samples per pig resulted in identification of as many as 40% and only 15% of the feed-treated pigs wrongly as noneaters, respectively. Repeated sampling over multiple days would identify 99% of eaters accurately. Pigs erroneously identified as noneaters were those administered either low amounts of Cr(2)O(3)-supplemented creep feed for 2 days or Cr(2)O(3)-supplemented creep feed on only 1 day.


CONCLUSIONS
Data suggest that addition of Cr(2)O(3) to creep feed enables selection of individual creep feed-eating suckling pigs via examination of feces, provided that repeated fecal samples are evaluated.
Kuller
Wikke I
WI
Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Beers-Schreurs
Hetty M G
HM
Soede
Nicoline M
NM
Taverne
Marcel A M
MA
Kemp
Bas
B
Verheijden
Jos H M
JH
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D017608:Chromium Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D003116:Color; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism*
D017608:Chromium Compounds; C023600:chromic oxide