Effect of weaning age on growth performance of crossbred pigs reared up to 70 kg body weight under intensive system
Journal Title: Journal of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine - Year 2016, Vol 1, Issue 4
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of weaning age on growth performance of crossbred piglets reared up to 70 kg body weight (BW) under intensive system from May to November 2013. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design where weaner pigs were randomly allocated to three weaning ages (treatment) of 21, 28 and 35 days. Each treatment had 16 weaner pigs with four replicates (pen) each having four pigs of equal sex. The study was divided into three rearing periods: weaning phase (WP) (weaning to 70 days), grow to finish period (GFP) (70 days to 70 kg BW) and wean to finish period (WFP) (weaning to 70 kg BW). The growth parameters studied were BW, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and days on test. Data were analysed using General Linear Model Procedures of Statistical Analysis System. The results showed that BW for piglets weaned at 21 days of age was significantly (P<0.05) lower (17.93 ± 0.69 kg) than that of piglets weaned at 28 days (21.57 ± 0.78 kg) but similar to piglets weaned at 35 days (19.34 ± 0.78 kg) which was intermediate during WP. Piglets weaned at 21 days of age had significantly lower ADG (0.267 ± 0.01 kg), ADFI (0.651 ± 0.01 kg) and higher FCR (2.56 ± 0.12) than piglets weaned at 28 and 35 days of age at the end of WP. Average daily gain (0.884 ± 0.02 kg), ADFI (2.31 ± 0.02 kg) and days on test (57 ± 2) significantly improved during GFP with respect to 21 day weaned group compared to 28 and 35 days groups. All the measured parameters did not significantly vary during WFP. Generally, weaning age had no effect on growth performance of piglets weaned at 21, 28 and 35 days of age suggesting that piglets can be weaned at these periods without adversely affecting growth performance. It is therefore recommended that further studies can be conducted to evaluate the effect of weaning age on the reproductive performance of the sows and profitability of the three weaning ages.
Authors and Affiliations
Theresa Theresia Montsho, John Cassius Moreki, Christopher Mareledi Tsopito, Shalaulani James Nsoso
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP403808
- DOI 10.31248/JASVM2016.028
- Views 83
- Downloads 0
Performance and ileal characteristics of finishing Broilers fed diets supplemented with prebiotics (Mannose and Lactose)
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of prebiotics supplemented diets on performance characteristics and gut morphology of broiler chickens. The study involved 320 day-old Anak broiler chicks, used to asses...
Prevalence, isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility of Gallibacterium anatis from Local Breed of Female Muscovy Ducks (Cairina moschata) in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria
The present study was carried out from the month of March to December, 2016 and aimed to isolate and investigate the prevalence of Gallibacterium anatis infection as well as to study the antimicrobial susceptibility patt...
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) from Farm Animals and Humans in Tropical Africa - A review
The study was designed to review the incidences and characteristics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) from farm animals and humans in tropical Africa. Serotypes O157, O26, O103, O91, O45 and O111 are usual...
Comparative morphometric traits differentiation and phenotypic correlations between Achatina achatina (Linne, 1758) and Achatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822) snails with four and five whorls
Four hundred (400) adult black-skinned snails, two hundred (200) each of the Achatina achatina and Achatina fulica with 4 and 5 whorls were used respectively for the study. Identification and sorting of the snails sourc...
Ethno-Veterinary Care amongst the Nomadic Fulani Herdsmen in Southern Zone of Adamawa State, Nigeria
The ethno-veterinary care amongst the nomadic Fulani herdsmen in Southern Zone of Adamawa State, Nigeria was investigated. Purposive sampling technique was used to select four out of the eight Local Government Areas of t...