Purdue University
Agricultural Experiment Station
Lafayette, Indiana
Mimeo. A. H. 153 September 16, 1955
A Comparison of Weaning Pigs at 5 and 8 Weeks of Age Using Different Creep Feeds
J. H. Conrad and W. M. Beeson
Department of Animal Husbandry
In recent years there has been increasing interest in weaning pigs earlier than 8 weeks of age. With the formulation of special feeds high in milk products and other high quality proteins, it is possible to wean pigs at 3 weeks or even 7 days. As a result, the question is no longer, “Can I wean pigs at 7, 21 or 35 days?” but “What are the advantages and disadvantages of weaning pigs earlier than 56 days?".
Over 400 pigs have been used in two different experiments to study the advantages and disadvantages of weaning ipigs at 5 weeks of age as compared to pigs weaned at 8 weeks of age. These two experiments were conducted with August-farrowed pigs in the fall of 1954 and with March-farrowed pigs in the spring of 1955. The objectives of these two experiments were as follows:
1.	To compare the results of weaning pigs at 5 weeks of age with those weaned at 8 weeys.
2.	To test the advisability of adding 10$ dried skim milk to a ration for weaning pigs at 5 weeks.
3.	To compare cane sugar and molasses for stimulating early creep consumption in young pigs
Experimental Plan
Experiment I
This experiment was conducted with August-farrowed litters in the fall of 1954* All the pigs were from sows that had produced 1 or 2 litters previously. Twenty-three sows and litters were divided into 6 groups, according to the age of the pigs, and were placed on experiment when the pigs were 7 days of age. These sows were self-fed a ration of 60$ ground corn, 25$ ground oats, 6$ meat and bone scrap, 6$ soybean meal and 1 fo each of limestone, bonemeal and salt. Each group of 4 sows and their litters were given access to a l/2 acre alfalfa-ladino clover pasture and provided with a 10Y x 12? portable sleeping shed. The back 4 feet was partitioned off, and a creep feeder was placed in each of the back corners.
The details of the creep rations fed are given in Table 1. Three different creep rations were used for the 6 lots of pigs. When the pigs were weaned at 5 weeks, they were continued on their respective creep feeds until they were 8 weeks old. All pigs were kept in the same pasture lots until they were 8 weeks old. The experimental desigh: for Experiment I was, as follows:
The results of Experiment I are summarized in Tables 2 and 3«
The results of comparing 10$ molasses or 10$ cane sugar, to a ration for stimulating creeP consumption in pigs, is summarized in Table 2. A comparison of the results of weaning pigs at 5 weeks of age compared to 8 weeks is summarized in Table 3« jxperiment II
This experiment was conducted with March-farrowed litters in the spring of 1955* first litter gilts and their pigs were used in this experiment. Thirty-two gilts their litters were divided into 8 groups, according to the age of the pigs, and were placed on experiment when the pigs reached 7 days of age. These gilts were self-fed a ration of 61$ ground corn, 25,.5$ ground oats, 6$ of meat and bone scrap, 6$ soybean meal and 0«5$ each of limestone, bonemeal and salt. Each lot of 4 gilts and their litters Were given access to a i/2 acre Balbo rye pasture. Housing and creep feeder arrange-^ents were the same as described in Experiment I.