Creep Feed: Effects of Feed Flavor Supplementation on Pre- and Post-weaning Performance and Behavior of Piglet and Sow

L. Yan, H. D. Jang, I. H. Kim
2011 Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences  
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of flavor supplementation on pre-and post-weaning performance and behavior of piglets and sows. A total of 30 sows (Landrace×Yorkshire) and their litters were employed in this study. Sows were randomly assigned to 3 dietary treatments (10 replications per treatment). Dietary treatments included: i) CON, basal diet; ii) TRT1, CON+0.1% vanilla supplement; iii) TRT2, CON+0.1% cheese supplement. The behavior of sows (nursery, eating and standing) and
more » ... piglets (eating, sleeping and fighting) in each treatment was monitored throughout experiment. Each piglet was weighted at 5, 10, 15 and 21 d after birth to evaluate the average daily gain. Sows and piglets were bled on the weaning d to evaluate the blood characteristics. Back fat and estrus interval were investigated. In this study, there were no differences (p>0.05) in diarrhea score and blood characteristics among treatments. Likewise, the behavior was not influenced (p>0.05) by the dietary flavor supplementation. However, administration of flavor increased (p<0.05) the pre-weaning feed intake, post-weaning average daily gain (ADG) and gain/feed (G/F) ratio. No significant difference was observed (p>0.05) on the blood characteristics, behavior, backfat loss and estrus interval among treatments. In conclusion, administration of flavor could increase creep feed intake pre-weaning and piglet ADG post-weaning, whereas inclusion of flavor had no influence on blood characteristics and performance in sow and piglets. (
doi:10.5713/ajas.2011.11011 fatcat:btkbrfpg65bedn5xul6n3olgmi