The quality of creep feed affects consumption and growth performance of pre- and post-weaning pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of creep feeding on pre- and post-weaning pig performance. In Exp. 1, 96 sows (C29, PIC) and their litters were used to determine the effects of creep feed quality on pre-weaning growth and the proportion of piglets consuming creep feed. Litters were offered one of three treatments: (i) no creep feed, (ii) a simple creep diet, or (iii) a complex creep diet. The simple creep feed was the sow lactation diet which was sorghum-soybean meal based and formulated to 2554 kcal/kg NE and 0.92% standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys. The complex creep feed was formulated to 2769 kcal/kg of NE, 1.44% SID Lys, 23% lactose, and composed of oat groats, dried whey, and specialty protein sources. Creep feed was offered from d 18 to 21 (weaning) of lactation. Chromic oxide was added to both diets at 1.0% as an inert, colored fecal marker to identify pigs that consumed (eaters) and did not consume creep feed (non-eaters). Pigs fed the complex creep diet had greater (P = 0.033) pre-weaning ADG and tended to have greater (P = 0.063) total gain than pigs fed the simple creep diet with pigs not offered a creep diet intermediate. Litters fed the complex creep diet consumed twice (P < 0.001) as much total and daily creep feed intake of litters fed the simple creep diet. Also, the complex creep diet improved (P < 0.001) the proportion of eaters from 28% to 68%. In Exp. 2, 675 pigs from Exp. 1 (initially 6.4 ± 0.13 kg; 21.2 ± 0.2 d) were used to evaluate whether placing eaters with non-eaters of creep feed would facilitate and increase intake and gain of non-eaters. Treatments were non-eaters (not provided any creep feed or non-eaters from creep fed litters), eaters (pigs that consumed the complex creep feed), and a mixed group (52% non-eaters and 48% eaters). Each treatment had 9 replicate pens with 25 pigs per pen. In the first 3 d, eaters had greater (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) than non-eaters with the mixed group intermediate. Overall (d 0 to 28), ADG of eaters was greater (P = 0.049) than non-eaters. In conclusion, the complex creep improved pre-weaning ADG, ADFI, and the proportion of eaters. Eaters had increased ADG and ADFI in the first 3 d post-weaning and greater overall nursery ADG. Additionally, mixing eaters with non-eaters within pens did not stimulate feed intake and growth of non-eaters, which indicates that social facilitation did not occur.