Exploratory behaviour and performance of suckling piglets fed novel creep diets in two housing systems

摘要

The intake of solid creep feed by suckling piglets can promote both behavioural and physiological adaptation to the abrupt change in diet which occurs at weaning. Creep feed intakes have been reported to be very low during lactation (Kuller et al., 2010), hence the need to study ways of stimulating the exploratory behaviour and acceptance of creep feeds by suckling piglets. It is known that exploratory behaviour can be stimulated by novelty. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of increasing creep feed variety by use of different sequential flavours on solid food intake of piglets before weaning in two housing systems with different degrees of complexity and freedom for the sow, and the consequences for intake and pig health and performance after weaning.