Creep feed: Effects of feed flavor supplementation on pre- and post-weaning performance and behavior of piglet and sow

It has been suggested that sufficient intake of creep feed during lactation creates a gradual transition at weaning and reduced the occurrence of post-weaning disorders, and consequently improves performance of piglets and sows. Therefore, indentifying factors that can increase creep feed consumption may elicit positive effect of creep feed on nursery performance. It is well suggested that organoleptic properties of the feed may be a dietary factor that can reduce feed neophobia and influence the creep feed consumption. For these reasons, 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 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 and gain/feed ratio. No significant difference was observed (p>0.05) on the backfat loss and estrus interval among treatments.

In conclusion, administration of flavor could increase creep feed intake pre-weaning and piglet average daily gain post-weaning, whereas inclusion of flavor had no influence on blood characteristics and performance in sow and piglets. Therefore, application of flavor in creep feed could be considered as a good method to improve the growth performance of piglet post-weaning with less cost in feedstuff technology.