The effect of providing of free choice electrolyte and vitamin solution on the performance of nursing piglets

摘要

It is a common practice in farrowing operations to therapeutically provide creep waterers containing electrolyte solution to nursing piglets experiencing diarrhea. However, most producers do not provide electrolyte solution to normal litters as a way of increasing piglet performance. On one swine unit serviced by the University of Guelph, the manager does routinely use electrolytes in all litters (Karen Richardson, personal communication). The manager of this unit believed the electrolyte and vitamin solution increased weaning weights. The purpose of this study was to determine if there would be an increase in the growth performance of nursing piglets as a result of the availability of a free choice electrolyte and vitamin solution.