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The effects of weaning age, diet composition, and categorisation of creep feed intake by piglets on diarrhoea and performance after weaning
Journal article   Peer reviewed

The effects of weaning age, diet composition, and categorisation of creep feed intake by piglets on diarrhoea and performance after weaning

J. Callesen, D. Halas, F. Thorup, K.E. Bach Knudsen, J.C. Kim, B.P. Mullan, D.J. Hampson, R.H. Wilson and J.R. Pluske
Livestock Science, Vol.108(1-3), pp.120-123
2007
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2007.01.014
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Abstract

This study investigated the effects of weaning age, diet, and classification of piglets as 'eaters' or 'non eaters' of creep feed in lactation, on production and diarrhoea after weaning. Four antimicrobial-free diets were offered in lactation and for 14 days after weaning: (i) wheat-soy based diet with animal and vegetable ('mixed') protein sources (COMM), (ii) heat-processed rice (HPR) with barley hulls and potato starch and mixed protein sources (RBHPS), (iii) HPR with sugar-beet pulp and mixed protein sources (RSBP), and (iv) HPR with mixed protein sources (R). Piglets were individually examined for diarrhoea daily for 14 days after weaning, and antibiotic treatments were individually recorded. Faecal swabs were taken on day 10 after weaning and scored for β-haemolytic Escherichia coli. There were significant main effects of weaning age and diet (both P < 0.001) on daily gain between weaning and 14 days after weaning. Pigs weaned later grew 50 g/day more than pigs weaned earlier, and pigs fed the COMM diet grew slower than pigs fed the rice-based diets. The number of antibiotic treatments was influenced by diet (P < 0.001), with most treatments (2.1) given to pigs fed the diet RBHPS. Faecal score was influenced by a weaning age and diet interaction (P < 0.01). There was no correlation (P > 0.05) between the number of antibiotics treatments and the E. coli score.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.51 Dairy & Animal Sciences
3.51.208 Poultry Nutrition
Web Of Science research areas
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
ESI research areas
Plant & Animal Science
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