Piglets suckling anterior teats during lactation grow faster but then show a reduced rate of growth

Authors

J C. Kim, Department of Agriculture and Food, WAFollow
B P. Mullan, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Jes Callesen, Danish Pig Production
R H. Wilson, Wandalup Farms, WA
J R. Pluske, Murdoch UniversityFollow

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2005

Conference Title

Tenth Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association

Place of Publication

Christchurch

ISBN

978-0-9806880-4-7

ISSN

1324-9177

Keywords

pigs, swine

Disciplines

Meat Science

Abstract

The anterior teats of sows contain more protein and DNA (Kim et al., 2000) and produce up to 200% more milk than the posterior teats (Algers et al., 1990). As a consequence, piglets suckling from anterior teats drink more milk and are generally heavier at weaning (Pluske et al., 1996; Kim et al., 2000). However, the subsequent post-weaning performance of piglets that suckled anterior or posterior teats has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the performance of pigs before and after weaning based on their teat (suckling) order during lactation.

Recommended Citation

Kim, J C, Mullan, B P, Callesen, J, Wilson, R H, and Pluske, J R. (2005), Piglets suckling anterior teats during lactation grow faster but then show a reduced rate of growth, Tenth Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association, Christchurch, pp.226-226.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/conf_papers/169