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Author: Ramya Sree, Indupalli × Start date: 2010 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    EFFECT OF EARLY AND SPLIT WEANING ON PERFORMANCE AND BEHAVIOUR OF LARGE WHITE YORKSHIRE PIGLETS
    (Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati, 2016-01) Ramya Sree, Indupalli; Ashalatha, P
    ABSTRACT: Failure of pig rearing in India is mainly due to piglet mortality. Weaning of piglets is an important operation in piggery farms to maintain health status of sow and piglets too. Usually weaning of piglet is done at 8 weeks of age. Several experiments have demonstrated the benefits of early or split weaning for improving health status of the herd. The aim of present study is to explore the economic advantage of early or split weaning in comparison to conventional weaning in commercial swine production. The study was conducted in the Department of Instructional Livestock Farm Complex (ILFC), NTR College of Veterinary Science, Gannavaram. A total of 30 piglets as four weaning age groups, split weaned piglets with heavy litter weaned at 28 days as one group (n=6), weak litter left with sow up to 56 days as one group (n=6), early weaning of entire litter at 28days (n=10) and 56 days of conventional weaning age groups (n=8) were selected. Comparison was made among the different weaning age group piglets for feed intake, growth performance, post weaning behaviour and carcass characteristics. The mean daily feed intake (grams) obtained for 1st , 2nd , 3rd and 4th group piglets during 1st fortnightly interval was 151.50 ± 9.92, 185.33 ± 11.24, 128.68 ± 6.91, 80.86 ± 4.14, respectively which was increased to 2012.50 ± 4.72, 1606.00 ± 4.21, 1577.86 ±13.67, 1570 ± 13.13 in 15th fortnightly interval, respectively. Significant difference (P<0.01) was observed among different groups of piglets with respect to feed intake and feed conversion efficiency. The mean birth weights (kg) were 1.02±0.01, 0.98±0.00, 0.85±0.00and 0.85±0.00 for the groups 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively. By the end of the study period the mean bodyweights (kg) were 71.62±2.62, 66.50±1.91, 69.50±0.71 and 71.17±0.47, and the difference was not significant among different groups of piglets. The ADG (kg) obtained for 1st , 2nd , 3rd and 4th groups during 1st fortnightly interval was 0.22±0.10, 0.17±0.12, 0.21±0.01 and 0.20±0.01, respectively which were increased to 0.48±0.03, 0.47±0.06, 0.38±0.05 and 0.45±0.02 in 16th fortnightly interval, respectively and the difference was not significant among different groups of piglets. Behavioral observations were made among four weaning groups which included different behavioral patterns like playing, fighting, feeding, water intake, locomotion, sleeping, belly-nosing and tail biting of the piglets. These were observed for 24 hrs with the help of closed circuit camera for 15 days. The time (min) spent for locomotion (58.10±3.09) with 6.34% (P<0.05) and belly nosing (2.93 ± 0.48) with 0.32% (P<0.01) were significantly more in split weaned heavier piglets. Feeding (80.62±5.46) with 7.90% (P<0.01), fighting (2.69±0.24) with 0.26% (P<0.05) were significantly more in early weaned piglets and sleeping (873.04 ± 4.76) with 85.63% was significantly (P<0.01) more in conventionally weaned piglets compared to other group piglets. Significant differences were not observed in time (min) spent for playing, water intake, and tail biting of the piglets. However the time spent for playing and tail biting in piglets was 3.52% and 0.02%, respectively more in early weaned piglets compared to split and conventionally weaned groups, whereas the time spent (%) for water intake is 0.20% which was more in conventionally weaned group. The dressing per cent is significantly low in 2nd group of piglets (73.29±0.51) compared to 1st (78.14±0.91), 3rd (76.49±0.53) and 4th (77.91±0.25). However no significant difference in dressing per cent was observed among 1st, 3rd and 4th group piglets. The meat:bone ratio is significantly high in 3rd group of piglets (3.20±0.02) compared to 1st (3.07±0.06), 2nd (3.03±0.05) and 4th (2.80±0.05). Based on the results obtained in the present study early weaned piglets showed higher feed efficiency over split and conventionally weaned piglets used for pork production.