Effects of Gruel Feeding and Oral Dextrose on the Survivability of Pigs After Weaning

Two experiments were conducted using 3,087 (Exp. 1) and 988 2) pigs to determine the effect of gruel feeding administering oral dextrose on pig survivability after weaning. Upon arrival nursery, smallest 10% selected randomly placed in designated pens with 61 108 per pen. Pens small assigned 1 2 treatments a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted two or four times day starting 14-d post-placement. At each feeding, approximately 2.5 lb solid feed was added round Rotecna bowl (Rotecna S.A., Agramunt, Spain) located at front Water decreasing rate over time such that d 0 5, 6 10, 11 14 ratio water 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, respectively. In Exp. 2, every other removed from general population for welfare considerations (lameness, sick, fallback) received single 10 mL dose 50% solution (Vet One, MWI Animal Health, Boise, ID), as source glucose, before being removal All tagged weighed, blood glucose measured prior 30 min entering pens, their body temperature recorded. Overall, post-placement did not influence (P > 0.10) mortality weaning end (3.78 vs. 4.25%, respectively). Likewise, administration 38 (21.4 23.4% respectively), even though levels increased < 0.001) administered compared (increased by 11.4 19.1 mg/dL). An interaction observed 0.001). Pigs less than 70 mg/dL had increased. contrast, between 120 greater decreased weighing an removal. summary, providing supplementation improve Additionally, low weight, below above normal range, high survivability.