Banner

Indian Journal of Animal Research

  • Chief EditorM. R. Saseendranath

  • Print ISSN 0367-6722

  • Online ISSN 0976-0555

  • NAAS Rating 6.40

  • SJR 0.233, CiteScore: 0.606

  • Impact Factor 0.5 (2025)

Frequency :
Monthly (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December)
Indexing Services :
Science Citation Index Expanded, BIOSIS Preview, ISI Citation Index, Biological Abstracts, Scopus, AGRICOLA, Google Scholar, CrossRef, CAB Abstracting Journals, Chemical Abstracts, Indian Science Abstracts, EBSCO Indexing Services, Index Copernicus
Submit

Research Article

Indian Journal of Animal Research, volume 54 issue 12 (december 2020) : 1572-1577

Effect of Restricted Suckling on Growth Performance and Behaviour of Crossbred Piglets

Laishram Sunitibala Devi, Chandrahas, Sarada Prasanna Sahoo, Asu Singh Godara, Narender Kumar, G.K. Gaur, Mukesh Singh
1National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema- 797 106, Nagaland, India.
Cite article:- Devi Sunitibala Laishram, Chandrahas, Sahoo Prasanna Sarada, Godara Singh Asu, Kumar Narender, Gaur G.K., Singh Mukesh (2020). Effect of Restricted Suckling on Growth Performance and Behaviour of Crossbred Piglets. Indian Journal of Animal Research. 54(12): 1572-1577. doi: 10.18805/ijar.B-3913.

ABSTRACT

Present study was planned to acclimatize the pre-weaned piglet for stress tolerance through restricted suckling with or without mother’s visibility for improved piglet and through stress tolerance. For this, 244 piglets from 36 pregnant crossbred sows (Landrace × Desi), with 18 sows each, during summer season having 147 piglets and during winter season having 97 piglets were used. Eighteen sows along with their piglets were randomly distributed in 3 treatment groups viz. T0 (No restriction), T1 (restricted suckling with mother’s visibility) and T2 (restricted suckling without mother’s visibility) for the above said study for 3 months. A total of 15 minutes time was allotted for suckling of piglets in T1 and T2 group. Different records pertaining to body weight, feed intake, behaviour and growth parameter of piglets were recorded up to 3 months of age. At the end of the study period, body weight of piglets showed non-significant difference between the treatment groups. Grower feed intake during post-weaning (after 42 days) period showed significant difference (P<0.01) during winter season with highest value observed in T2 group. In rest of the period, non-significant difference was observed for all the treatment groups both during summer and winter season. Higher values for suckling behaviour was recorded for T1 and T2 groups than T0. From the present study, restricted suckling without mother’s visibility may be recommended at farm level for quick adaptation of piglets after weaning.

REFERENCES

  1. Berkeveld, M., Langendijk, P., Soede, N. M., Kemp, B., Taverne, M. A., Verheijden, J. H., Kuijken, N. and Koets, A. P. (2009). Improving adaptation to weaning: effect of intermittent suckling regimens on piglet feed intake, growth and gut characteristics. Journal of Animal Science. 87(10): 3156-66.
  2. Berkeveld, M., Langendijk, P., Bolhuis, J.E., Koets, A.P., Verheijden, J.H.M. and Taverne, M. A. M. (2007b). Intermittent suckling during an extended lactation period: effects on piglet behavior. Journal of Animal Science. 85: 3415-3424.
  3. Berkeveld, M., Langendijk, P., van Beers-Schreurs, H.M.G., Koets, A.P., Taverne, M.A.M. and Verheijden, J.H.M. (2007a). Postweaning growth check in pigs is markedly reduced by intermittent suckling and extended lactation. Journal of Animal Science. 85: 258– 266.
  4. Campbell, J. M., Crenshaw, J. D. and Polo, J. (2013). The biological stress of early weaned piglets. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology. 4(1):19.
  5. Castellano, R., Aguinaga, M. A., Nieto, R., Aguilera, J. F., Haro, A. and Seiquer, I. (2014). Effects of intermittent suckling on body composition of Iberian piglets weaned at 35 days of age. Animal. 8(5): 714–720.
  6. Colson, V., Orgeur, P., Foury, A., Mormède, P. (2006). Consequences of weaning piglets at 21 and 28 days on growth, behaviour and hormonal responses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 98: 70–88.
  7. Gomez-Carballar, F., Aguinaga, M.A., Nieto, R. and Aguikera, J.F. (2009). Effects of intermittent suckling on the performance and digestive efficiency of Iberian piglets weaned at 35 days of age. Livestock Science. 124: 41-47.
  8. Kugonza, D.R. and Mutetikka, D. (2005). Weaning strategies to improve the performance of sows and their progeny under smallholder farming conditions. South African Journal of Animal Science. 35(4): 244-48.
  9. Kuller W., Soede N., van Beers-Schreurs H., Langendijk P., Taverne M., Verheijden J., Kemp B. (2004). Intermittent suckling: Effects on piglet and sow performance before and after weaning. Journal of Animal Science. 82: 405–413.
  10. Kuller, W.I., Soede, N.M., VanBeers-Schreurs, H.M., Langendijk, P., Taverne, M.A., Kemp, B. and Verheijden, J.H. (2007). Effects of intermittent suckling and creep feed intake on pig performance from birth to slaughter. Journal of Animal Science. 85: 1295– 1301.
  11. Millet, S., Aluwe, M., De Brabander, D.L. and Van Oeckel, M.J. (2008). Effect of seven hours intermittent suckling and flavour recognition on piglet performance. Archives of Animal Nutrition. 62: 1–9.
  12. Oostindjer, M., Bolhuis, J.E., Mendl, M., Held, S., Van Den Brand, H. and Kemp, B. (2011). ‘Learning how to eat like a pig: effectiveness of mechanisms for vertical social learning in piglets’. Animal Behaviour. 82(3): 503-11.
  13. Oostindjer, M., Kemp, B.,Van Den Brand, H. and Bolhuis, J.E. (2014). Facilitating ‘Learning from Mom how to Eat Like a Pig’ to Improve Welfare of Piglets around Weaning. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 160:19-30.
  14. Puppe, B and Tuchscherer, A. (2000). The development of suckling frequency in pigs from birth to weaning of their piglets: a sociobiological approach. Animal Science. 71(2): 273-279.
  15. Raseel, K., Prasad, K. and Sunanda, C. (2016). A study of seasonal variations on productive performance of cross bred pigs in high range regions of wayanad. International Journal of Science and Nature. 7(2): 387-389.
  16. Sulabo, R.C., Tokach, M.D., Dritz, S.S., Goodband, R.D., DeRouchey, J.M. and Nelssen, J. L. (2010). Effects of varying creep feeding duration on the proportion of pigs consuming creep feed and neonatal pig performance. Journal of Animal Science. 88: 3154– 3162.
  17. Thompson, L.H., Hanford, K.J. and Jensen, A.H. (1981). Estrus and fertility in lactating sows and piglet performance as influenced by limited nursing. Journal of Animal Science. 53: 1419-1423.
Reviewed By

Download Article
In this Article
    Contact us
    Follow us

    Editorial Board

    View all (0)