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A total of 240 piglets weaned at 21d were used in three different trials of four pens (20 piglets/pen). In each trial two different treatments were distributed (2 pens/treatment). The experimental consisted of feed mixed with warm water at 36ºC during the first week of weaning. The control diet consisted feed mixed with non-heated water (14ºC). Piglets were weighed at weaning and at weekly intervals through the 49 days after weaning and on day 139 after weaning. Animal behaviour was also evaluated for the first 48 h after weaning. The amount of feed consumed was recorded on a daily basis throughout the whole period of nursery.
It was observed that piglets fed the heated diet showed higher weight gain than those fed the control diet (90.9 vs 86.9; P=0.047). The difference was particularly observed during the nursery phase (49 d) where the experimental group showed higher weight gain (19.9 vs 19.0; P=0.03) than the animals from the control group. Higher total feed intake (42.6 vs 37.2; P=0.023) was also observed for the animals fed the heated diet than those fed the control diet. However no differences in feeding behaviour were observed between both groups.
It is concluded that heating the mash fed in the first week after weaning increases both feed intake and weight gain in piglets.
K Reiners, EF Hessel and FA Van den Weghe. 2008. Journal of Animal Science. 86: 3600-3607.
