EFFECTS OF WEANING AGE ON GROWTH, HEALTH AND MORTALITY OF PIGLETS IN GOVERNMENT PIG FARM

Abstract

A study was conducted with the objective to evaluate the effects of weaning age on growth, health and mortality of piglets in a government farm. Forty-two piglets belonging to breed Duroc, Saddleback and Large Black, were selected randomly from piglets of five sows and were assigned to three treatments. The treatments were; T1 (28 days weaning age), T2 (35 days weaning age) and T3 (42 days weaning age). Each treatment was allotted 14 piglets. Piglets were weighed on day zero, weekly and on the day of weaning till 60 days. Daily post weaning feed consumption for each group was recorded. Incidences of diseases and mortality in all groups were recorded in pre-weaning (0 to 28 days) and post-weaning (28 to 60 days) periods. The mean final weight gain at 60 days was highest in T3, followed by T2 and T1. However, there was no significant difference among treatments in weight gain. Also, the survival in pre-weaning was similar in all treatments. Post-weaning survival was highest in T3 and lowest in T1, although there was no significant difference in survival among groups. The findings suggest that piglets can be weaned at an earlier age than the currently followed age (48 days) in the government farm, provided there is proper management and improved facilities in farrowing and nursery sheds.