Practical Piglet weaning systems and their digestion physio background

Question 1

What is weaning (2)

Answer 1

Changing of their social, physical and thermal environment

Changing of their diet form and composition

Question 2

Types of weaning: age and solid feed composition

Answer 2

age (wks) and solid feed composition

1. Traditional: 8 wks and 70-80
2. Recent (the one used) 4 wks and 50-60
3. SEW (segreagted early weaning) 2 wks and very little solid feed

Question 3

SEW: what is the principle and when is it used

Answer 3

Based on assumption that there is minimal disease transmission from the sow to the piglet

Used when: want to get rid of diseases or when want to get the sow into estrus

Question 4

Changes that occur at weaning 6

Answer 4

1. Abrupt remonal and introduced to synch feeding periods
2. From liquid to dry feed
3. Water intake no longer via milk
4. Separation from mother
5. Piglets are moved, mixed and sorted
6. Changes in: temp, humidity, air vent, society, housing

Question 5

Why do we wean at 28 days (5)

Answer 5

1. Development of the digestive system
2. Immunity of pig
3. Milk prod of sow
4. Labour
5. Feed cost

Question 6

Weaning at 28 days: Development of the digestive system (5)

Answer 6

1. Suckling piglets have longer villi- this length decr at weaning, therefore weaned piglets have deeper crypts
2. During weaning the pH of the intestine incr… and then decr- a higher pH promotes the growth of E.Coli
3. at 28 days, low chymotrypsin, amylase and trypsin activity- may lead to indigesiton
4. Lacotbacillus: E.Coli ration. Lactobacilli feed on milk sugar and help keep the amnt of E.Coli low!
5. Decr VFA’s during weaning are a bad thing because these inhibit the growth of unwated bacteria

Question 7

Weaning at 28 days: immunity of the piglet

Answer 7

Is though to be sufficient at 4 weeks

Question 8

Milk prod of sow

Answer 8

Normally peaks 2-4 wks pp

**therefore it is after the peak the weaning takes place**

Question 9

Labour

Answer 9

Early weaning requires highly competent/specialised staff

Question 10

Feed cost

Answer 10

Early weaned piglet food is expensive but the young piglets eat very little

Question 11

Nutrient content of the different diets (prestarter, starter and piglet diet)

Answer 11

CP % and DE MJ/kg

CP: 24 21 18

DE: 14 14 14

Question 12

Feeding methods and frequency of newly weaned piglets

Answer 12

Should be fed fresh food 4-6x a day

Feed should always be available and on rubber mats

Free access to water

Question 13

Problems related to the stress caused by weaning (3)

Answer 13

1. Effect on enzyme activity
2. Other stressors
3. Dx

Question 14

Effect on enzyme activity

Answer 14

10 day critical period after weaning when there is a decr in chymortrypsin and amylase esp (slight decr in trypsin)- this is when indigestion is likely to occur

Question 15

Other strssor (4)

Answer 15

Nutritional

Physio

Environmental

Social

Question 16

Dx

Answer 16

Seen 5-11 days after weaning

Early weaning disturbs barrier by mast cell activation- E.coli can invade and cause the Dx

Treatment: indigestible/insoluble fibre: Barley hulls or CF diets from 5-17%

Question 17

Protein and E requirements of the feeds used (based on 6 different body weights)

Answer 17

*DE remains the same at 14.2, CP decr!!

• 3-5kg: 26
• 5-10kg: 23.7
• 10-20kg: 20.9
• 20-50kg: 18
• 50-80: 15.5
• 80-120: 13.2

Question 18

What is the dry matter consumption

Answer 18

3-4% of BW

Question 19

Feed supplements

Answer 19

Iron- prefer inj over PO as it is too time consuming

Lysine: see the prev topic