The Impact of Weaning Age and Creep Feed Composition on Growth Performance and Health in LWY Piglets

The Impact of Weaning Age and Creep Feed Composition on Growth Performance and Health in LWY Piglets | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article The Impact of Weaning Age and Creep Feed Composition on Growth Performance and Health in LWY Piglets Vanlalhmangaihsanga Vanlalhmangaihsanga This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9423722/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Weaning is a pivotal phase for piglets, impacting their transition from maternal milk to solid feed. This study investigates the effects of different weaning ages and creep feed formulations on the growth performance of LWY (Large White × Yorkshire) piglets. Methodology: In this investigation was done during 2022–2023, sixty piglets were divided into three treatment groups: T 1 (conventional weaning at 42 days with standard creep feed), T 2 (early weaning at 28 days with a special nutrient formula, SNF, creep feed), and T 3 (split weaning, heavy litters at 24 days and lighter litters at 28 days, both with SNF creep feed). The SNF creep feed had 1% more crude protein and 5% more metabolisable energy compared to the standard creep feed. Weekly body weights, average daily gains, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), faecal scores, and mortality rates were recorded. Result Our finding indicated that early weaning (T 2 ) and split weaning (T 3 ) significantly improved body weights and average daily gains compared to conventional weaning (T 1 ). By the 9th week, T 2 and T 3 groups had higher final body weights (10.95 kg and 11.05 kg, p < 0.01 respectively) than T 1 (9.55 kg). The overall average daily gain was highest in the T 2 (162.02 g) and T 3 (159.02 g) groups (p < 0.05). Early and split weaning also improved FCR and reduced mortality rates due to improved nutritional intake and reduced post-weaning stress. No significant differences were observed in faecal scores among the groups. The study concludes that early and split weaning, supplemented with nutrient-dense creep feed, can enhance piglet growth, improve feed efficiency, and increase profitability, offering substantial benefits over conventional weaning practices. LWY piglets weaning age creep feed growth performance early weaning split weaning feed conversion ratio piglet mortality Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 INTRODUCTION Weaning is a critical phase in the life of piglets, marking their transition from maternal milk to solid feed. The timing of weaning and the composition of creep feed provided during this period significantly influence the growth performance and overall health of piglets (Middelkoop et al., 2019 ). In particular, for LWY (Large White × Yorkshire) piglets, optimizing the weaning age and creep ration is essential for maximizing growth rates and minimizing post-weaning stress. Various factors affect the decision-making process regarding weaning age and creep feed composition, including the sow's productivity, litter size, and management practices. The timing of weaning is crucial as it affects the piglets' ability to adapt to the dietary changes and influences their growth trajectory and long-term health. Traditionally, piglets are weaned at around 42 days of age (Sandhu et al., 2018 ), coinciding with the decline in sow milk production and the onset of solid feed intake. Early weaning, typically conducted before 28 days of age, accelerates the transition to solid feed but may pose challenges due to the immature digestive systems of piglets. However, early weaning can help reduce sow lactation duration, increase sow reproductive efficiency, and allow for faster rebreeding. Traditionally, piglets are weaned around 21 to 28 days, depending on the management practices and breed characteristics. Conventional weaning provides a balance between allowing piglets to benefit from sow's milk and promoting early solid feed intake. Delayed weaning beyond 28 days may lead to over-dependence on sow milk, delaying the development of solid feed consumption skills. However, late weaning can reduce post-weaning stress and improve piglet survival rates in some cases. However, recent research suggests that early weaning combined with high-quality creep feed supplementation could enhance piglet growth and reduce the economic burden on producers. (Vinitha et al., 2022 ) Creep feed is a specialized diet provided to piglets before weaning to supplement their nutritional needs and encourage early solid feed consumption. The composition of creep feed plays a crucial role in supporting optimal growth and development during the pre-weaning period. The nutrient density in Creep feed should be formulated to meet the specific nutrient requirements of piglets, including protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. Higher nutrient density in creep feed can support rapid growth and development during the pre-weaning phase. Increasing the levels of crude protein and metabolizable energy in creep feed can enhance piglet growth rates and promote muscle development. Adequate energy density is essential for meeting the high energy demands of rapidly growing piglets. (Tokach et al., 2020 ) Thus, by carefully optimizing these aspects based on breed characteristics, management practices, and nutritional requirements, producers can enhance piglet productivity, reduce mortality rates, and ultimately improve the profitability of swine production operations. Understanding how these factors interact can provide valuable insights into optimising piglet management practices to improve productivity and profitability in commercial swine production systems. By evaluating growth parameters such as individual piglet body weight and growth rates, we can assess the effectiveness of different weaning strategies and creep feed formulations in supporting optimal growth and development during the post-weaning period. In this paper, we present the experimental design and methodology used to investigate these objectives, followed by a comprehensive analysis of the results obtained from the study. Through this research, we aim to contribute to the knowledge surrounding piglet nutrition and management, ultimately benefiting pig producers by offering evidence-based recommendations for enhancing piglet growth performance and welfare. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the impact of weaning at different ages, supplemented with various creep rations, on the growth performance of LWY piglets. Specifically, we compare conventional weaning at 42 days with early weaning at 28 days, supplemented with standard creep feed and a specially formulated SNF (Special Nutrient Formula) creep feed. Additionally, we explore the effects of split weaning, where piglets from heavy litters are weaned earlier than those from lighter litters, to address potential differences in growth trajectories. MATERIALS AND METHOD Experimental Design: The experiment was conducted on 60 LWY piglets in All India Coordinated Research on Pig, Piggery Farm, Department of Livestock Production Management, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana (Latitude: 30°54' North, Longitude: 75°48' East). The research will be conducted using a total of 60 piglets of mixed gender, which will be randomly divided into three experimental treatment groups (Table 1): Treatment 1 (T1), Treatment 2 (T2), and Treatment 3 (T3). Each treatment group consists of 20 piglets, and each individual piglet served as a replicate within its respective experimental group. The use of piglets as individual replicates ensures that data are collected on an individual basis, allowing for detailed analysis of variation within and between treatment groups. This approach allows for a more detailed analysis of how the different treatments affect each piglet’s growth performance and health outcomes. By treating each piglet as a replicate, the study was able to capture the variability in individual responses to weaning age and dietary changes, which is critical for drawing statistically valid conclusions. The experimental design was a completely randomized design (CRD). Piglets were randomly allocated to each treatment group at the start of the experiment to minimize the influence of external factors and ensure that any observed differences are attributable to the weaning and dietary strategies under investigation. The use of randomization also helps in distributing gender, litter size, and initial body weight evenly across the groups to avoid bias. Treatment 1 represented conventional weaning practices, with piglets weaned at 42 days of age and provided with a conventional creep ration. Treatment 2 involved early weaning at 28 days, supplemented with a specially formulated SNF creep feed containing increased crude protein (CP) levels and metabolizable energy (ME). Treatment 3 consisted of split weaning, where piglets from heavy litters were weaned at 24 days, while piglets from lighter litters were weaned at 28 days, both supplemented with SNF creep feed. Creep Ration Formulation: Following the NRC 2012 feeding standard, the conventional creep ration used in Treatment 1 served as the control diet and was formulated to meet the standard nutritional requirements for pre-weaning piglets. The SNF creep feed provided in Treatments 2 and 3 was specially formulated to enhance nutrient density, with a 1% increase in crude protein and a 5% increase in metabolisable energy compared to the conventional creep ration. (Table 2) Weaning and Feeding Procedures: In Treatment 1 (T1), piglets were subjected to conventional weaning, which took place when the piglets reached 42 days of age. Before weaning, the piglets will be provided with a conventional creep ration containing 24% crude protein (CP) and 3400 kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME). This ration will be introduced gradually before weaning to ensure that the piglets are acclimated to solid feed as they transition from the sow’s milk. The focus here was on providing a baseline comparison to evaluate the impact of earlier weaning strategies used in other groups. In Treatment 2 (T2), the piglets were subjected to an early weaning protocol. These piglets were weaned at 28 days of age, which is earlier than the conventional weaning practiced in Treatment 1. Early weaning was employed to assess how reducing the suckling period would influence growth parameters, feed conversion, and health outcomes, particularly given the abrupt transition from sow's milk to solid feed at a younger age. The special feed (SNF) were formulated with a 1% increase in crude protein, bringing the total to 25%, and a 5% increase in metabolizable energy, providing 3570 kcal/kg. This enhanced feed is expected to promote growth and compensate for the reduced duration of milk feeding by the sow, providing additional nutrients to support the piglets’ early development. In Treatment 3 (T3), piglets were weaning strategy, called split weaning. Piglets from this group were weaned based on the total litter weight at weaning. For piglets of heavier weight, they were weaning at 24 days of age, while the lighter. Meanwhile, piglets of lighter weight were weaned at 28 days. This is done so that the piglets will have similar body weight when they grow to adult stage. Similar to T2, both groups in T3 will be fed the special nutrient feed (SNF) with an additional 1% crude protein and 5% higher metabolizable energy compared to the conventional creep ration. The intent is to provide extra nutritional support to piglets, particularly those weaned at 24 days, to mitigate the potential stress and growth lag associated with early weaning. Data Collection: Body weight Individual piglet body weights will be recorded weekly, starting from birth and continuing until the piglets reach nine weeks of age. At birth, each piglet will be weighed to establish a baseline. Weekly weight recordings will allow for the detailed tracking of growth performance over time. This frequent measurement will help identify growth patterns, including any potential growth lag associated with early or split weaning. Body weight gains will be calculated weekly by subtracting the previous week's weight from the current week's weight. The data will be used to assess the effects of different weaning ages and feeding strategies on the overall growth trajectory of the piglets. ADG is the ratio of the difference between the final and initial body weight divided by the number of days reared. Feed Intake Monitoring: Feed intake will be carefully monitored throughout the study. Each group of piglets will be provided with feed according to their treatment-specific diet, and feed consumption will be recorded daily. The amount of feed offered to each group will be measured, and the feed refusals will be collected and weighed at the same time each day to determine the actual feed intake. This will allow for the calculation of the feed conversion ratio (FCR), which is the ratio of feed consumed to body weight gain. FCR will provide insight into how efficiently each group of piglets converts feed into body mass, helping to identify the most effective weaning strategy and dietary supplementation in terms of feed efficiency. Feed conversion efficiency is expressed as feed conversion ratio (F.C.R.) and was calculated as a gram of feed consumed per gram of body weight gain with correction for mortality, if any. Throughout the experiment, all piglets will have ad libitum access to water, ensuring that hydration levels do not confound the results of the study. The water provision will be consistent across all treatment groups. Mortality Recording: Mortality data will also be collected as a measure of overall health and survivability in the different treatment groups. Mortality will be recorded as the percentage of dead pigs within each group. This percentage will be calculated as the number of piglets that die during the trial period divided by the number of piglets in the group at birth, multiplied by 100. The causes of mortality will be noted, if identifiable, to determine whether specific weaning or dietary treatments contribute to higher or lower mortality rates. Mortality is a crucial variable in evaluating the safety and practicality of early and split-weaning strategies, as well as the effectiveness of dietary supplementation. A record of mortality (if any) was maintained daily. The necropsy examination was done to evaluate any gross pathological lesion and cause of death of each piglet. Total mortality in each treatment was then calculated and expressed on a percentage basis. Faecal Scoring: Piglets were observed, and any abnormal faecal consistency were recorded along with the specific score. This parameter is critical for assessing the health impact of different weaning and feeding regimens, as early weaning and diet changes can often lead to digestive disturbances. Faecal scores were observed and recorded three times per day (morning, afternoon, and evening) from the start of the study until its conclusion. This frequent assessment allows for the detection of any rapid changes in faecal consistency, which may indicate digestive disturbances or gastrointestinal issues, particularly following weaning or changes in diet. Piglets' faecal scores will be recorded systematically to monitor patterns and potential correlations with the weaning strategies and dietary treatments. The moisture content of each piglet's faeces was visually estimated during the faecal scoring process. The consistency of the faeces, which is influenced by their moisture content, will be the primary indicator used to assign a score based on a 1 to 5 system developed by Hart and Dobb (1988). The scoring system is as follows: Score 1: Normal faeces with a thick, well-formed consistency, typical of healthy digestion. Score 2: Normal faeces but with a slightly thinner consistency compared to Score 1, indicating normal but slightly less formed stools. Score 3: Abnormally thin faeces, not watery but indicating a potential issue with digestion, possibly the early stages of diarrhoea. Score 4: Watery faeces, indicating more pronounced gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea. Score 5: Watery faeces with abnormal colouring (e.g., pale or greenish), suggesting severe digestive disturbance or illness. The consistency and moisture of the faeces is the primary basis for assigning the score, with higher scores indicating greater severity of digestive upset. Visual assessment of moisture content and texture cross-checked among observers to ensure consistency in scoring. The result of the faecal scoring was aggregated into a cumulative faecal score for each group on each day, following the method outlined by Montagne et al. (2004). The cumulative score represents the total digestive health status of the group for that particular day, offering a quantitative measure of the group's overall gastrointestinal health and response to the specific weaning and dietary treatments. Cumulative scores were calculated by summing the individual faecal scores of all piglets in the group and dividing by the number of observations for that day, providing an average faecal score per group. Piglets' faecal scores were noted on days 14, 21, and when they were weaned. Economical analysis: The economic analysis for the above experiment will focus on evaluating the economic viability of the different weaning strategies and dietary treatments, specifically considering the costs associated with the feed used in each treatment and the potential return from the sale of live pigs at the end of the trial. Cost of Inputs: The total expenditure for each treatment group will be calculated based on the following key cost components: Feed Costs: For Treatment 1 (T1), the cost will include the price of the conventional creep ration, which contains 24% crude protein (CP) and 3400 kcal/kg of metabolizable energy (ME). The total feed cost for T1 will be determined by the amount of feed consumed by the piglets until weaning at 42 days and the cost per unit of this feed. For Treatment 2 (T2), the cost will include the price of the special nutrient feed, which has a 1% higher CP (25%) and 5% higher ME (3570 kcal/kg) than the conventional creep feed. The total feed cost for T2 will account for the higher price of the special nutrient feed and the feed intake until early weaning at 28 days. For Treatment 3 (T3), the feed cost will be split between the two subsets of piglets: those weaned at 24 days (from heavier litters) and those weaned at 28 days (from lighter litters). Both subsets will consume the special nutrient feed. The feed cost for T3 will be calculated based on the amount of special feed consumed by each subset and the duration of feeding prior to weaning. The total feed costs will be calculated by multiplying the amount of feed consumed in each group by the cost per unit of the respective feed. Return from Sale of Live Pigs: At the end of the trial, the market weight of the piglets from each treatment group will be used to estimate their potential sale price. Each piglet will be weighed at the end of the nine weeks, and the average body weight for each treatment group will be calculated. The total live weight per group will be multiplied by the market price per kilogram of live pig weight to determine the gross revenue from each group. Economic Viability Assessment: The net economic viability of each treatment will be assessed by comparing the total costs (primarily feed costs) with the total returns (from the sale of live pigs). The net profit or loss for each treatment will be calculated as follows: Net Profit (or Loss) = Total Return from Sale of Pigs − Total Feed and Management Costs The results will indicate which weaning and feeding strategy offers the highest economic return. Treatment groups with lower feed costs but similar or higher returns from the sale of live pigs will be considered more economically viable. Additionally, treatments that result in improved feed efficiency, lower mortality rates, or higher final body weights will likely yield better economic outcomes. Statistical Analysis: The collected data on growth parameters will be subjected to statistical analysis using appropriate methods such as analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine significant differences between treatment groups. Post-hoc tests may be employed to further investigate specific pairwise comparisons. (Snedecor & Cochran, 1994) For each parameter, an ANOVA will be performed to analyze the effect of different weaning strategies on the outcome measures. 𝑌 𝑖𝑗𝑘 = 𝜇 + 𝛼 𝑖 + 𝜖 𝑖𝑗𝑘 Where: 𝑌 𝑖𝑗𝑘 is the dependent variable (body weight, FCR, or fecal score) for the j-th piglet in the i-th weaning group on the k-th time point. μ is the overall mean of the population. 𝛼 𝑖 is the effect of the 𝑖-th weaning strategy (i = 1, 2, 3). 𝜖 𝑖𝑗𝑘 is the residual error term, assumed to be normally distributed with mean zero and variance 𝜎 2 . If the ANOVA test shows significant results (p-value < 0.05), post-hoc pairwise comparisons will be made to identify the specific differences between treatment groups. Tukey's HSD test can be used for this purpose to maintain family-wise error rates. Ethical Considerations: All experimental procedures involving animals were conducted following ethical guidelines and approved by the IAEC of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), No. GADVASU/2021/IAEC/62/15. RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS Body Weight and Average Daily Weight Gain Weaning weight is important for determining postweaning performance, such as weight at the final age and yield of marketable pork (Mahan, 1993). Several studies have been performed to improve the weight of piglets at weaning, focusing on nutrition during gestation and gestation of sows and suckling piglets (Yan et al., 2011a, 2011b). The data on the growth performance have been represented in Table 3 and Table 4 and graphically represented in Figures 1 and 2. The results indicate that there was an increase in body weight between the treatment groups from the till the 9 th week of age. There is no significant difference between the initial weight (kg) of the litter between the groups T 1 , T 2 and T 3 (0.96 ± 0.05, 1.00 ± 0.03, and 1.03 ± 0.05), respectively. The data reveals a significant difference (P<0.05) in the 4th and 5th weeks piglets in the T 2 groups performed much better, but in the 9th week piglets in the T 2 and T 3 groups showed a higher body weight than the T 1 group. Numerically T 3 group gained the highest maximum weight (kg) compared to T 1 and T 2 . The final body weight of the pig at the 9th week of age shows that T 3 (11.05±0.26 kg) and T 2 (10.95±0.26 kg) show no statistical difference between the two groups, but when compared to T 1 (9.55±0.62 kg) group which shows a statistically significant difference (p<0.01). The Average Daily Gain (kg) also shows a linear increase in body weight gain with some depression in the weekly gain till the experimental period. There was a significant difference (p<0.01) between the groups on 28 days where T 3 had the lowest body weight gain 108.30±6.03g as compared to T 1 and T 2 (172.32±32.81g and 171.26±13.01g, respectively). On the 35 days, the data reveals no significant difference between groups, but numerically T 3 groups reveal the highest growth during this period. Days 42 and 49 also reveal no significant difference between the treatment groups, but numerically higher values can be observed when compared to the different groups. At 56 days shows a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) where T 3 (258.10±31.55g) have the maximum highest weight gain followed by T 2 (165.69±25.46g) and the lowest gain in weight was observed in T 1 (152.54±25.40g). The overall average daily body weight gain reveals a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the treatment groups, where T 2 (162.02±4.53g) and T 3 (159.02±4.45g) groups showed the highest average daily gain as compared to T 1 (142.05±8.10g). In the present study, split-weaned piglets showed higher body weights on the 63rd day of rearing. Within the split-weaned groups, though the body weights differed at the time of weaning, a difference was not observed between the weights of split-weaned heavy and split-weaned light by the end of the study. Body weights of the entire litter weaned at 28 days, i.e., early weaned piglets, are higher when compared to conventional weaned piglets at 45 days. The higher body weight might be due to good preweaning nutrition, i.e., mother’s milk along with the supplemented special creep feed, may be one of the reasons for this growth in split-weaned piglets. The extra provision of energy and whole milk powder as an extra source of protein in the creep diet might have enhanced the pig feed intake due to the smell and improved uptake which resulted in better growth performance which was reflected at the end of the experiment. The findings of the present study were in accordance with Abraham et al. (2004); Devi et al. (2000); Jayashree and Sivakumar (2013); and Pluske and Williams (1996). Abraham et al. (2004) studied the effect of early weaning, split-weaning and nursery feeding programmes on the growth of Landrace x Desi pigs. They concluded that feeding a special nutrient diet to lighter pigs is beneficial in overcoming the post-weaning lag and enables maximal weight gain. Kalita et al. (2018); Saikia et al. (2018); and Sulabo et al. (2010) reported that during the pre-weaning performance, the litter size at weaning in creep-fed litters was greater by 0.4 pigs per litter. Still, this difference was not significant (P > 0.19). When pigs were categorised based on the creep feed consumption category, eaters had greater postweaning gains and BW than non-eaters and non-creep-fed pigs. Pluske and Williams (1996) reported the mechanisms of increased growth of small piglets following split weaning using a total of 10 sows and 100 piglets. 'Light' piglets in split-weaned litters grew 61% faster (P <0.001) than their counterparts in control litters and were 15% heavier (P < 0.01) at weaning. 'Heavy' piglets weaned at 22 days were lighter at 29 than their control litter counterparts (P < 0.01). Christensen and Huber (2021); Middelkoop et al. (2020); Tissopi et al. (2020) conducted a study on the creep feed provision in the early stage of life and performed early weaning on piglets. They found that the Body weight was influenced by the interaction of the creep and nursery feed treatment (P<0.001). They concluded that feeding piglets with liquid creep ration had a greater body weight on 21 days than the other experiment pigs. The present study also reveals that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the average daily gain (ADG), where T 3 performed better. This might be due to the inclusion of milk powder which provides flavour and odour to the feed inducing more feed intake and thereby increasing the intake of solid feed. Daily Feed Intake The data on the daily feed intake of pigs have been presented in Tables 5 and Figures 3. The results show a linear increase in feed intake with maximum total feed consumption in T 3 . There was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in average daily feed intake from 21-27 to 56-62 days of rearing. The T 2 and T 3 groups show statistically higher feed intake from 21-27 days to 42-48 days and during the last rearing period of 56-62 days the T 1 (524.70 ±9.22g) group shows the highest feed intake as compared to the other two group T2 and T3 (432.21±2.91g and 423.07±1.27g, respectively). The Total feed intake (21-62 days) shows no statistically significant difference among the groups. The better uptake of feed during the initial period of the experiment might be due to early weaning. Early weaning may be responsible for the early intake of solid feed as the piglets were separated from the mother to restrict the piglets from suckling the sow milk, thereby increasing the intake of creep ration. The addition of whole milk powder in the creep feed might also play a role in the uptake of feed as it provides a better odour/smell which the pig prefers and might enhance the piglet feed intake. Less feed intake during conventional weaning might be due to the availability of milk consumption. Campbell et al. (2013); Kalita et al. (2015); and Morrison et al. (2008) also reported a similar finding where pre-weaning creep feed intake stimulates further post-weaning feed intake and decreases the time-to-consumption of post-weaning diets. The inclusion of whole milk powder and gur in the creep feed of T 2 and T 3 might improve the flavour and give a milky odour which might help in the increased intake of solid feed; this also increases the protein and energy contained in the creep ration, thereby increase the body weight gain and result in higher body weight as compared to conventional creep ration given to T 1 group. A similar finding was reported by Abraham et al. (2004); Chen et al. (2021); Heo et al. (2018); Muns & Magowan (2018); Tissopi et al. (2020); Vente-Spreeuwenberg et al. (2004) where the piglets were fed with milk powder in the creep ration of suckling piglets and observed an increase in the ADFI as compared to those of the non-eaters after weaning. Feed Conversion Ratio The data on the feed conversion of pigs have been presented in Table 6, and graphically represented in Figure 4. FCR for the experiment was calculated first for T 2 and T 3 where for the initial calculation T 2 (1.10 ±0.07 and 1.35 ±0.08) have a statistically significant better FCR as compared to T 3 (1.68 ±0.07 and 1.69 ±0.27) and on day 35-41 days T 3 group (1.85 ±0.24) shows a statistically significant better FCR as compared to T 2 group (2.03 ±0.23). On 42-48 days all the treatments were calculated as the piglets were completely weaned from the mother and are completely on the solid base diet. The FCR during the experiment period shows a significant difference (P<0.05) where T 3 (1.65 ±0.16 and 2.39 ±0.29) have the highest FCR as compared to T 2 (2.49 ±0.35 and 2.63 ±0.37) and T 1 (3.31 ±0.64 and 3.83 ±0.52). The higher FCR in T 2 and T 3 may be due to better solid feed consumption, as the animals were weaned early, the piglets consumed solid feed earlier, and the piglets were more adapted to the solid feed as compared to conventional weaning; this may result in better consumption of solid feed which may result in higher body weight. Similar findings were also reported by Faccin et al. (2020); and Suryanarayana and Suresh (2011), who found a higher FCR feed efficiency compared to late-weaned piglets. Also, with the inclusion of milk powder and gur, there was an improvement in the availability of energy and protein in the creep feed of the piglets may result in better digestion and thereby improve the feed efficiency. Singh et al. (2001); and Tissopi et al. (2020) also found that with high protein high energy or with the addition of probiotics + 5% milk powder in creep ration there was slightly higher FCE. However, the overall average FCR shows no significant difference between the treatment groups, this might be due to the weaning stress leading to poor growth after weaning. With the advancement of age, the water content in the body of an animal decreases, which might lead to an increase in the requirement of feed per kg body weight gain. Similar finds were reported by Jayashree and Sivakumar (2013); Kalita, (2012); Kalita et al. (2015). Piglet survivability, faecal score of piglets and economic impact Table 7 shows the effects of different initiation of creep feeding on litter size at birth and weaning weight, stillbirth and piglet survival rate, the faecal score of piglets and economic impact. It may be noted that during the experimental period mortality was observed to be significantly higher in the Convention weaning period (T 1 ) compared to T 2 and T 3 . The mortality in the groups was observed to be due to the crushing of the piglets by the mother. This might be due to the low viability of the weak piglets. This happens due to the difference in the body weight among the litter, lower viability piglets are unable to obtain the necessary nutrients from the mothers due to prolonged struggles to find and attach to teats, leading them to linger in unsafe areas near the sow, which increasing the likelihood of being crushed. Andersen et al. (2011) observed mortality per cent of 20%; 56% of the deaths were caused by maternal crushing, of which 25% had not received any milk. Twenty-six per cent of the dead piglets had no milk in their stomachs and were assumed to have starved since this was the only cause of death. Ayuso et al. (2020) also observed that the overall mortality rate differed between the piglets with differing birth weights (p = 0.048) where the mortality rate was lowest in higher birth weight (8.3%) compared to normal birth weight (24.2%) and light birth weight (30.6%). The lower mortality in the T 2 and T 3 might be due to the supplementation of higher nutritive creep feed containing 1% more protein and a 5% increase in the energy concentration. Also, the addition of whole milk powder enhances the flavour and aroma of the creep ration, these enhance the piglets to take more of the feed as compared to the conventional creep ration given to the T1 group. This results in more uniformity in the weight of the piglets until the weaning age which might result in no mortality in the litter of T 2 and T 3 . The finding is in agreement with Ayuso et al. (2020) where enhancing the creep ration of piglets with short-chain fructose-oligosaccharide shows an increased body weight by 1 kg in newborn suckling piglets and reduced the post-weaning mortality rate by 100%. While increasing protein and energy content in creep feed primarily impacts body weight gain there was no significant difference between the faecal scoring between the different treatment groups, it's worth noting that sudden changes in diet composition can sometimes lead to digestive disturbances in animals. The mean faecal score (Table. 7) of T 3 at the time of weaning was (2.58) and as well as T 2 (2.50) showed no statistically significant difference when compared with T 1 (2.63, p=0.15). However, if the transition is gradual and the feed is well-balanced, the effect on faeces may be minimal. Diarrhoea was not a problem for any of the pigs, and no deaths occurred. In agreement with these results, Ayuso et al., (2020) and Lee and Kim (2009) observed no difference in the faecal score of piglets among treatments. However, in contrast to our study, Wen et al. (2018) observed that piglets fed 17% CP had lower faecal scores with lower incidence of diarrhoea compared with piglets in other treatments (0. 74, P < 0.05), and faecal score significantly increased with increasing CP percentage (19% CP and 23.7% CP) (1.44 and 1.85, P < 0.05). The findings of Ball and Aherne (1987) observed that severe diarrhoea occurs when pigs were weaned at 4 weeks (P<0.10) when receiving high-density dietary energy (P<0.10), or when offered feed ad libitum (P<0.10), showing that both volume of feed consumed and nutrient intake influence occurrence of diarrhoea. The input source of the farms is mainly from the feeds and medication of the piglets (Table. 7). The cost of creep feed in T 2 and T 3 was higher due to the inclusion of whole milk powder and gur which increases the protein and energy content of the feed by 1% and 5% respectively. Also, since the piglets in T 2 and T 3 were weaned early the additional feed cost increases as the feed was consumed by the piglets earlier as compared to the Conventional weaning system. The total expenditure of the pigs for the current experiment reveals that there is a 26.40% increase in input cost in the early weaned group (T 2 ) and a 27.21% increase in the split weaned group (T 3 ) as compared to the conventional weaning method (T 1 ). However, due to the better final body weight in early weaned groups and split weaned group the profit per piglet is higher as compared to the conventional weaned group by 1.59% and 1.93% respectively. The current finding follows the finding of Bhatia and Chhabra (1985); and Kalita et al. (2018) who found that the Net profit, Net profit /piglet, Input Output Ratio and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) were significantly better in pigs under early weaning (28 and 35 days) management compared to late weaning age (42 days or traditional weaning age of 56 days). CONCLUSION Early weaning at 28 days, when supplemented with a nutrient-dense creep feed, can significantly enhance piglet growth rates, feed efficiency, and overall profitability, while also reducing post-weaning mortality. Split weaning, which considers the weight differences within litters, can further optimize growth outcomes by addressing the specific needs of piglets based on their initial body weight. Pig producers are encouraged to adopt early weaning strategies combined with high-quality, nutrient-dense creep feeds to maximize piglet growth and health outcomes. By doing so, producers can improve the productivity and profitability of their swine operations while also ensuring better welfare for the piglets. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that both early and split weaning, when paired with a specially formulated creep feed, offer significant advantages over conventional weaning practices. Declarations Conflict of Interest There was no external source funding or from any organisation for the research. Conflict of Interest The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. The products used for this research are commonly and predominantly used products in our area of research. Author Contribution This work was carried out during the PhD research. Author Vanlalhmangaihsanga is responsible for the collection, analyzing and compiling the article. Acknowledgement The authors thank the Post Graduate Dean, College of Veterinary Sciences, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Punjab, Ludhiana, India, for providing the necessary facilities to complete the study. I am thankful to the Indian Council of Agriculture Research for providing the required animals under the project entitled “All Indian Coordinated Research Project on Pig”, operational in the Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, for conducting this study. I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, for providing a National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Studies (Schedule Tribe). References Abraham, J., & Chhabra, A. K. (2004). Effect of Early Weaning, Split-Weaning and Nursery Feeding Programmes on the Growth of Landrace× Desi Pigs. Tropical Animal Health and Production , 36 (6), 599–608. Andersen, I. L., Nævdal, E., & Bøe, K. E. (2011). Maternal investment, sibling competition, and offspring survival with increasing litter size and parity in pigs (Sus scrofa). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology , 65 , 1159–1167. 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Tables Table 1: Details plan of work Treatments Weaning Method Number of Piglets (Replicates) Diet Before Weaning Treatment 1 Conventional weaning at 45 days (control) 20 Conventional creep ration (24% CP, 3400 kcal/kg ME) Treatment 2 Early weaning at 28 days 20 Special nutrient feed (25% CP, 3570 kcal/kg ME) Treatment 3 Split weaning at 24 days (heavier piglets) and 28 days (lighter piglets) 20 Special nutrient feed (25% CP, 3570 kcal/kg ME) Table 2: Composition of Creep Ration 1 and Creep Ration 2 for piglet and its calculated nutrient composition Ingredient Conventional Creep Ration (7-11kg) (Kg) SNF (7-11kg) (Kg) Maize 47.00 40.00 Soybean Meal 32.00 33.00 Wheat Bran 8.00 4.00 Molasses 3.00 5.00 Fish Meal/GNC 5.00 5.00 Whole Milk Powder - 5.00 Oil 3.00 6.00 Mineral Mixture 1.50 1.50 Salt 0.50 0.50 Total 100.00 100.00 Calculated Nutrient Composition Moisture % 11.95 11.11 Dry Matter % 88.05 88.89 Total Ash % 7.54 7.98 Acid Insoluble Ash % 1.39 1.40 Crude Protein % 24.5 25.38 Ether Extract % 4.78 4.93 Calcium % 0.79 1.02 Phosphorus % 0.68 0.77 Table 3: Effect of different Weaning Methods and creep ration programs on the weekly average bodyweight. Days T1 (45 days Weaning) (N=20) T2 (28 days Weaning) (N=20) T3 (24 and 28 days Weaning Split Weaning) (N=20) p-value At Birth 0.96±0.05 1.00±0.03 1.03±0.05 0.49 7 1.45±0.11 1.52±0.06 1.79±0.17 0.22 14 2.70±0.15 2.78±0.07 2.87±0.22 0.74 21 3.48±0.14 3.95±0.15 3.77±0.27 0.12 Split Weaning (24 days heavier piglets) - - 4.19 ±0.32 (n=9) 28 4.62±0.25 ab 5.19±0.19 a (n=20) 4.13±0.21 b 0.00 Split Weaning (28 days lighter piglets) - - 4.71 ±0.18 (n=11) 35 5.23±0.21 ab 5.82±0.15 a 4.98±0.30 b 0.04 42 6.55±0.31 7.13±0.24 6.52±0.26 0.20 Conventional Weaning (45 days) 6.62 ±0.26 (n=17) - - 49 7.75±0.42 8.39±0.23 7.55±0.26 0.11 56 8.95±0.40 9.17±0.26 9.36±0.14 0.49 63 9.55±0.62 b 10.95±0.26 a 11.05±0.26 a 0.02 Mean value bearing different superscripts in a row differ significantly (p<0.05) Table 4: Effect of different Weaning Methods and creep ration programs on the average daily gain (g) (ADG) in LWY Pigs Days T1 (45 days Weaning) (N=20) T2 (28 days Weaning) (N=20) T3 (24 and 28 days Weaning Split Weaning) (N=20) p-value 7 69.29±19.78 100.38±9.45 98.14±7.75 0.25 14 142.86±18.88 132.37±6.59 137.63±24.39 0.82 21 133.40±15.67 168.78±11.49 156.21±22.43 0.23 28 172.32±32.81 a 171.26±13.01 a 108.30±6.03 b 0.00 35 138.26±13.20 158.31±9.58 171.00±30.50 0.54 42 237.79±31.13 173.67±27.37 191.81±22.49 0.25 49 188.14±24.87 192.57±29.55 183.22±18.26 0.96 56 152.54±25.40 b 165.69±25.46 ab 258.10±31.55 a 0.03 63 166.36±25.74 192.56±23.20 226.69±32.34 0.35 Overall ADF (63-initial) 142.05±8.10 b 162.02±4.53 a 159.02±4.45 a 0.05 Mean value bearing different superscripts in a row differ significantly (p<0.05) Table 5: Effect of different Weaning Methods and creep ration programs on the average daily feed intake (g) (ADFI) in LWY Pigs Days T1 (45 days Weaning) (N=20) T2 (28 days Weaning) (N=20) T3 (24 and 28 days Weaning Split Weaning) (N=20) p-value 21-27 135.57 ±9.57 b 173.79±1.93 a 176.07±1.59 a 0.00 28-34 149.50 ±4.55 c 207.23±2.20 b 226.36±4.96 a 0.00 35-41 228.64 ±18.18 b 287.56±3.54 a 308.14±4.21 a 0.00 42-48 304.21 ±3.00 b 337.97±3.74 a 340.24±1.36 a 0.00 49-55 397.79 ±24.98 361.87±5.49 357.14±5.54 0.14 56-62 524.70 ±9.22 a 432.21±2.91 b 423.07±1.27 b 0.00 Total Feed Intake (21-62) 12.18±1.24 12.60±0.75 12.82±0.83 0.90 Mean value bearing different superscripts in a row differ significantly (p<0.05) Table 6: Effect of different Weaning Methods and creep ration programs on the weekly FCR in LWY Pigs Days T1 (45 days Weaning) (N=20) T2 (28 days Weaning) (N=20) T3 (24 and 28 days Weaning Split Weaning) (N=20) p-value 21-27 - 1.10 ±0.07 a 1.68 ±0.07 b 0.00 28-34 - 1.35 ±0.08 a 1.69 ±0.27 b 0.01 35-41 - 2.03 ±0.23 b 1.85 ±0.24 a 0.02 42-48 1.89 ±0.23 2.10 ±0.22 2.19 ±0.22 0.66 49-55 3.31 ±0.64 b 2.49 ±0.35 ab 1.65 ±0.16 a 0.01 56-62 3.83 ±0.52 b 2.63 ±0.37 a 2.39 ±0.29 a 0.03 Overall FCR 1.40±0.08 1.25±0.04 1.29±0.04 0.12 Table 7: Effects of different initiation of creep feeding on litter size at birth and weaning weight, stillbirth and piglet survival rate, faecal score of piglets and economic impact . Item Treatments 1 p-value T1 T2 T3 Litter Size at birth 10±0.04 10±0.08 10±0.02 1.00 Weaning Weight (kg) 6.62 ±0.26 b 5.19±0.19 b 4.45±0.74 a 0.05* Still Birth 0 0 0 0 Pre-weaning Mortality 0.1 b 0 a 0 a 0.001* Fecal Score 2 14 th day 4.75 4.63 4.5 0.10 21 st day 3.63 3.25 3.13 0.10 Day of weaning 2.63 2.50 2.58 0.15 Economic impact Total expenditure (Rs. /piglet) 687.20 1036.77 1051.38 - Average body weight/piglet (kg) 9.55 10.95 11.05 - Market price (@ Rs. 300/kg) 2865.00 3285.00 3315.00 - Gross return (Rs/piglet) 2177.80 2248.23 2263.62 - Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 23 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 22 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 20 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 20 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 20 Apr, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 18 Apr, 2026 First submitted to journal 15 Apr, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9423722","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":625370255,"identity":"6662570f-34da-4d69-b03e-270116a225d5","order_by":0,"name":"Vanlalhmangaihsanga Vanlalhmangaihsanga","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Siksha O Anusandhan University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Vanlalhmangaihsanga","middleName":"","lastName":"Vanlalhmangaihsanga","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-04-15 08:09:35","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9423722/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9423722/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":107315752,"identity":"fdf5a449-b1e0-41d7-9153-87dc5831dc93","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-20 09:49:44","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":38940,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeekly body weight and creep ration program of LWY piglets weaned on different days and creep ration program\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9423722/v1/91c04fff75172db44b2ff8ad.png"},{"id":107315753,"identity":"43b144e1-31c9-4e83-abcd-1680938ab8d5","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-20 09:49:44","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":75438,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAverage daily body weight gain and creep ration program of LWY piglets weaned on different days and creep ration program\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9423722/v1/afb413ddbb24baa5c492cd70.png"},{"id":107485428,"identity":"07848795-72f3-498d-b473-e981f32582fd","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-22 02:34:43","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":56433,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAverage Daily feed intake (g) of pigs weaned at different days and creep ration program in LWY Piglets\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMean value bearing different superscripts in a row differ significantly (p\u0026lt;0.05)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9423722/v1/f605bd36b13d1fe0c7682626.png"},{"id":107486116,"identity":"a6ba02d0-3d8d-4277-a5c1-2a53c6292628","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-22 02:37:28","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":50132,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFCR of LWY piglets weaned on different days and creep ration program\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9423722/v1/a83d098d3a0479d42c0ad7e4.png"},{"id":107487737,"identity":"5dc1893e-976e-48a7-a6b3-5440ac811871","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-22 02:42:37","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1441778,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9423722/v1/ff566c1c-a051-4128-b7eb-4518a013af32.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"The Impact of Weaning Age and Creep Feed Composition on Growth Performance and Health in LWY Piglets","fulltext":[{"header":"INTRODUCTION","content":"\u003cp\u003eWeaning is a critical phase in the life of piglets, marking their transition from maternal milk to solid feed. The timing of weaning and the composition of creep feed provided during this period significantly influence the growth performance and overall health of piglets (Middelkoop et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). In particular, for LWY (Large White \u0026times; Yorkshire) piglets, optimizing the weaning age and creep ration is essential for maximizing growth rates and minimizing post-weaning stress. Various factors affect the decision-making process regarding weaning age and creep feed composition, including the sow's productivity, litter size, and management practices. The timing of weaning is crucial as it affects the piglets' ability to adapt to the dietary changes and influences their growth trajectory and long-term health. Traditionally, piglets are weaned at around 42 days of age (Sandhu et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e), coinciding with the decline in sow milk production and the onset of solid feed intake.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEarly weaning, typically conducted before 28 days of age, accelerates the transition to solid feed but may pose challenges due to the immature digestive systems of piglets. However, early weaning can help reduce sow lactation duration, increase sow reproductive efficiency, and allow for faster rebreeding. Traditionally, piglets are weaned around 21 to 28 days, depending on the management practices and breed characteristics. Conventional weaning provides a balance between allowing piglets to benefit from sow's milk and promoting early solid feed intake. Delayed weaning beyond 28 days may lead to over-dependence on sow milk, delaying the development of solid feed consumption skills. However, late weaning can reduce post-weaning stress and improve piglet survival rates in some cases. However, recent research suggests that early weaning combined with high-quality creep feed supplementation could enhance piglet growth and reduce the economic burden on producers. (Vinitha et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCreep feed is a specialized diet provided to piglets before weaning to supplement their nutritional needs and encourage early solid feed consumption. The composition of creep feed plays a crucial role in supporting optimal growth and development during the pre-weaning period. The nutrient density in Creep feed should be formulated to meet the specific nutrient requirements of piglets, including protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. Higher nutrient density in creep feed can support rapid growth and development during the pre-weaning phase. Increasing the levels of crude protein and metabolizable energy in creep feed can enhance piglet growth rates and promote muscle development. Adequate energy density is essential for meeting the high energy demands of rapidly growing piglets. (Tokach et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e Thus, by carefully optimizing these aspects based on breed characteristics, management practices, and nutritional requirements, producers can enhance piglet productivity, reduce mortality rates, and ultimately improve the profitability of swine production operations. Understanding how these factors interact can provide valuable insights into optimising piglet management practices to improve productivity and profitability in commercial swine production systems. By evaluating growth parameters such as individual piglet body weight and growth rates, we can assess the effectiveness of different weaning strategies and creep feed formulations in supporting optimal growth and development during the post-weaning period.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this paper, we present the experimental design and methodology used to investigate these objectives, followed by a comprehensive analysis of the results obtained from the study. Through this research, we aim to contribute to the knowledge surrounding piglet nutrition and management, ultimately benefiting pig producers by offering evidence-based recommendations for enhancing piglet growth performance and welfare. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the impact of weaning at different ages, supplemented with various creep rations, on the growth performance of LWY piglets. Specifically, we compare conventional weaning at 42 days with early weaning at 28 days, supplemented with standard creep feed and a specially formulated SNF (Special Nutrient Formula) creep feed. Additionally, we explore the effects of split weaning, where piglets from heavy litters are weaned earlier than those from lighter litters, to address potential differences in growth trajectories.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"MATERIALS AND METHOD","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExperimental Design:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe experiment was conducted on 60 LWY piglets in All India Coordinated Research on Pig, Piggery Farm, Department of Livestock Production Management, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana (Latitude: 30\u0026deg;54\u0026apos; North, Longitude: 75\u0026deg;48\u0026apos; East). The research will be conducted using a total of 60 piglets of mixed gender, which will be randomly divided into three experimental treatment groups (Table 1): Treatment 1 (T1), Treatment 2 (T2), and Treatment 3 (T3). Each treatment group consists of 20 piglets, and each individual piglet served as a replicate within its respective experimental group. The use of piglets as individual replicates ensures that data are collected on an individual basis, allowing for detailed analysis of variation within and between treatment groups. This approach allows for a more detailed analysis of how the different treatments affect each piglet\u0026rsquo;s growth performance and health outcomes. By treating each piglet as a replicate, the study was able to capture the variability in individual responses to weaning age and dietary changes, which is critical for drawing statistically valid conclusions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe experimental design was a completely randomized design (CRD). Piglets were randomly allocated to each treatment group at the start of the experiment to minimize the influence of external factors and ensure that any observed differences are attributable to the weaning and dietary strategies under investigation. The use of randomization also helps in distributing gender, litter size, and initial body weight evenly across the groups to avoid bias.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTreatment 1 represented conventional weaning practices, with piglets weaned at 42 days of age and provided with a conventional creep ration. Treatment 2 involved early weaning at 28 days, supplemented with a specially formulated SNF creep feed containing increased crude protein (CP) levels and metabolizable energy (ME). Treatment 3 consisted of split weaning, where piglets from heavy litters were weaned at 24 days, while piglets from lighter litters were weaned at 28 days, both supplemented with SNF creep feed.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCreep Ration Formulation:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the NRC 2012 feeding standard, the conventional creep ration used in Treatment 1 served as the control diet and was formulated to meet the standard nutritional requirements for pre-weaning piglets. The SNF creep feed provided in Treatments 2 and 3 was specially formulated to enhance nutrient density, with a 1% increase in crude protein and a 5% increase in metabolisable energy compared to the conventional creep ration. (Table 2)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeaning and Feeding Procedures:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Treatment 1 (T1), piglets were subjected to conventional weaning, which took place when the piglets reached 42 days of age. Before weaning, the piglets will be provided with a conventional creep ration containing 24% crude protein (CP) and 3400 kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME). This ration will be introduced gradually before weaning to ensure that the piglets are acclimated to solid feed as they transition from the sow\u0026rsquo;s milk. The focus here was on providing a baseline comparison to evaluate the impact of earlier weaning strategies used in other groups.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Treatment 2 (T2), the piglets were subjected to an early weaning protocol. These piglets were weaned at 28 days of age, which is earlier than the conventional weaning practiced in Treatment 1. Early weaning was employed to assess how reducing the suckling period would influence growth parameters, feed conversion, and health outcomes, particularly given the abrupt transition from sow\u0026apos;s milk to solid feed at a younger age. The special feed (SNF) were formulated with a 1% increase in crude protein, bringing the total to 25%, and a 5% increase in metabolizable energy, providing 3570 kcal/kg. This enhanced feed is expected to promote growth and compensate for the reduced duration of milk feeding by the sow, providing additional nutrients to support the piglets\u0026rsquo; early development.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Treatment 3 (T3), piglets were weaning strategy, called split weaning. Piglets from this group were weaned based on the total litter weight at weaning. For piglets of heavier weight, they were weaning at 24 days of age, while the lighter. Meanwhile, piglets of lighter weight were weaned at 28 days. This is done so that the piglets will have similar body weight when they grow to adult stage. Similar to T2, both groups in T3 will be fed the special nutrient feed (SNF) with an additional 1% crude protein and 5% higher metabolizable energy compared to the conventional creep ration. The intent is to provide extra nutritional support to piglets, particularly those weaned at 24 days, to mitigate the potential stress and growth lag associated with early weaning.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Collection:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBody weight\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIndividual piglet body weights will be recorded weekly, starting from birth and continuing until the piglets reach nine weeks of age. At birth, each piglet will be weighed to establish a baseline. Weekly weight recordings will allow for the detailed tracking of growth performance over time. This frequent measurement will help identify growth patterns, including any potential growth lag associated with early or split weaning. Body weight gains will be calculated weekly by subtracting the previous week\u0026apos;s weight from the current week\u0026apos;s weight. The data will be used to assess the effects of different weaning ages and feeding strategies on the overall growth trajectory of the piglets.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eADG is the ratio of the difference between the final and initial body weight divided by the number of days reared.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/58895_8739fc6c57c1c19a/58895_custom_files/img1776677884.png\" width=\"627\" height=\"90\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeed Intake Monitoring:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeed intake will be carefully monitored throughout the study. Each group of piglets will be provided with feed according to their treatment-specific diet, and feed consumption will be recorded daily. The amount of feed offered to each group will be measured, and the feed refusals will be collected and weighed at the same time each day to determine the actual feed intake. This will allow for the calculation of the feed conversion ratio (FCR), which is the ratio of feed consumed to body weight gain. FCR will provide insight into how efficiently each group of piglets converts feed into body mass, helping to identify the most effective weaning strategy and dietary supplementation in terms of feed efficiency.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeed conversion efficiency is expressed as feed conversion ratio (F.C.R.) and was calculated as a gram of feed consumed per gram of body weight gain with correction for mortality, if any.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/58895_8739fc6c57c1c19a/58895_custom_files/img1776677920.png\" width=\"349\" height=\"103\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout the experiment, all piglets will have ad libitum access to water, ensuring that hydration levels do not confound the results of the study. The water provision will be consistent across all treatment groups.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMortality Recording:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMortality data will also be collected as a measure of overall health and survivability in the different treatment groups. Mortality will be recorded as the percentage of dead pigs within each group. This percentage will be calculated as the number of piglets that die during the trial period divided by the number of piglets in the group at birth, multiplied by 100. The causes of mortality will be noted, if identifiable, to determine whether specific weaning or dietary treatments contribute to higher or lower mortality rates. Mortality is a crucial variable in evaluating the safety and practicality of early and split-weaning strategies, as well as the effectiveness of dietary supplementation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA record of mortality (if any) was maintained daily. The necropsy examination was done to evaluate any gross pathological lesion and cause of death of each piglet. Total mortality in each treatment was then calculated and expressed on a percentage basis.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https://myfiles.space/user_files/58895_8739fc6c57c1c19a/58895_custom_files/img1776677954.png\" width=\"814\" height=\"90\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFaecal Scoring:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePiglets were observed, and any abnormal faecal consistency were recorded along with the specific score. This parameter is critical for assessing the health impact of different weaning and feeding regimens, as early weaning and diet changes can often lead to digestive disturbances. Faecal scores were observed and recorded three times per day (morning, afternoon, and evening) from the start of the study until its conclusion. This frequent assessment allows for the detection of any rapid changes in faecal consistency, which may indicate digestive disturbances or gastrointestinal issues, particularly following weaning or changes in diet. Piglets\u0026apos; faecal scores will be recorded systematically to monitor patterns and potential correlations with the weaning strategies and dietary treatments.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe moisture content of each piglet\u0026apos;s faeces was visually estimated during the faecal scoring process. The consistency of the faeces, which is influenced by their moisture content, will be the primary indicator used to assign a score based on a 1 to 5 system developed by Hart and Dobb (1988). The scoring system is as follows:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eScore 1: Normal faeces with a thick, well-formed consistency, typical of healthy digestion.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eScore 2: Normal faeces but with a slightly thinner consistency compared to Score 1, indicating normal but slightly less formed stools.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eScore 3: Abnormally thin faeces, not watery but indicating a potential issue with digestion, possibly the early stages of diarrhoea.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eScore 4: Watery faeces, indicating more pronounced gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eScore 5: Watery faeces with abnormal colouring (e.g., pale or greenish), suggesting severe digestive disturbance or illness.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe consistency and moisture of the faeces is the primary basis for assigning the score, with higher scores indicating greater severity of digestive upset. Visual assessment of moisture content and texture cross-checked among observers to ensure consistency in scoring.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result of the faecal scoring was aggregated into a cumulative faecal score for each group on each day, following the method outlined by Montagne et al. (2004). The cumulative score represents the total digestive health status of the group for that particular day, offering a quantitative measure of the group\u0026apos;s overall gastrointestinal health and response to the specific weaning and dietary treatments. Cumulative scores were calculated by summing the individual faecal scores of all piglets in the group and dividing by the number of observations for that day, providing an average faecal score per group. Piglets\u0026apos; faecal scores were noted on days 14, 21, and when they were weaned.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEconomical analysis:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe economic analysis for the above experiment will focus on evaluating the economic viability of the different weaning strategies and dietary treatments, specifically considering the costs associated with the feed used in each treatment and the potential return from the sale of live pigs at the end of the trial.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCost of Inputs:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe total expenditure for each treatment group will be calculated based on the following key cost components:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeed Costs:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor Treatment 1 (T1), the cost will include the price of the conventional creep ration, which contains 24% crude protein (CP) and 3400 kcal/kg of metabolizable energy (ME). The total feed cost for T1 will be determined by the amount of feed consumed by the piglets until weaning at 42 days and the cost per unit of this feed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor Treatment 2 (T2), the cost will include the price of the special nutrient feed, which has a 1% higher CP (25%) and 5% higher ME (3570 kcal/kg) than the conventional creep feed. The total feed cost for T2 will account for the higher price of the special nutrient feed and the feed intake until early weaning at 28 days.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor Treatment 3 (T3), the feed cost will be split between the two subsets of piglets: those weaned at 24 days (from heavier litters) and those weaned at 28 days (from lighter litters). Both subsets will consume the special nutrient feed. The feed cost for T3 will be calculated based on the amount of special feed consumed by each subset and the duration of feeding prior to weaning.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe total feed costs will be calculated by multiplying the amount of feed consumed in each group by the cost per unit of the respective feed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReturn from Sale of Live Pigs:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the end of the trial, the market weight of the piglets from each treatment group will be used to estimate their potential sale price. Each piglet will be weighed at the end of the nine weeks, and the average body weight for each treatment group will be calculated. The total live weight per group will be multiplied by the market price per kilogram of live pig weight to determine the gross revenue from each group.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEconomic Viability Assessment:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe net economic viability of each treatment will be assessed by comparing the total costs (primarily feed costs) with the total returns (from the sale of live pigs). The net profit or loss for each treatment will be calculated as follows:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNet\u0026nbsp;Profit\u0026nbsp;(or\u0026nbsp;Loss) = Total\u0026nbsp;Return\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;Sale\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;Pigs \u0026minus; Total\u0026nbsp;Feed\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;Management\u0026nbsp;Costs\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe results will indicate which weaning and feeding strategy offers the highest economic return. Treatment groups with lower feed costs but similar or higher returns from the sale of live pigs will be considered more economically viable. Additionally, treatments that result in improved feed efficiency, lower mortality rates, or higher final body weights will likely yield better economic outcomes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStatistical Analysis:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe collected data on growth parameters will be subjected to statistical analysis using appropriate methods such as analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine significant differences between treatment groups. Post-hoc tests may be employed to further investigate specific pairwise comparisons.\u0026nbsp;(Snedecor \u0026amp; Cochran, 1994)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor each parameter, an ANOVA will be performed to analyze the effect of different weaning strategies on the outcome measures.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e𝑌\u003csub\u003e𝑖𝑗𝑘\u003c/sub\u003e = 𝜇 + 𝛼\u003csub\u003e𝑖\u003c/sub\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003e+\u0026nbsp;𝜖\u003csub\u003e𝑖𝑗𝑘\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"decimal_type\"\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e𝑌\u003csub\u003e𝑖𝑗𝑘\u003c/sub\u003e is the dependent variable (body weight, FCR, or fecal score) for the j-th piglet in the i-th weaning group on the k-th time point.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026mu; is the overall mean of the population.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e𝛼\u003csub\u003e𝑖\u003c/sub\u003e is the effect of the 𝑖-th weaning strategy (i = 1, 2, 3).\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e𝜖\u003csub\u003e𝑖𝑗𝑘\u003c/sub\u003e is the residual error term, assumed to be normally distributed with mean zero and variance 𝜎\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf the ANOVA test shows significant results (p-value \u0026lt; 0.05), post-hoc pairwise comparisons will be made to identify the specific differences between treatment groups. Tukey\u0026apos;s HSD test can be used for this purpose to maintain family-wise error rates.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthical Considerations:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll experimental procedures involving animals were conducted following ethical guidelines and approved by the IAEC of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), No. GADVASU/2021/IAEC/62/15.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBody Weight and Average Daily Weight Gain\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeaning weight is important for determining postweaning performance, such as weight at the final age and yield of marketable pork (Mahan, 1993). Several studies have been performed to improve the weight of piglets at weaning, focusing on nutrition during gestation and gestation of sows and suckling piglets (Yan et al., 2011a, 2011b).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe data on the growth performance have been represented in Table 3 and Table 4 and graphically represented in Figures 1 and 2. The results indicate that there was an increase in body weight between the treatment groups from the till the 9\u003csup\u003eth\u003c/sup\u003e week of age. There is no significant difference between the initial weight (kg) of the litter between the groups T\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e, T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e and T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e (0.96 \u0026plusmn; 0.05, 1.00 \u0026plusmn; 0.03, and 1.03 \u0026plusmn; 0.05), respectively. The data reveals a significant difference (P\u0026lt;0.05) in the 4th and 5th weeks piglets in the T\u003csub\u003e2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003egroups performed much better, but in the 9th week piglets in the T\u003csub\u003e2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003eand T\u003csub\u003e3\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003egroups showed a higher body weight than the T\u003csub\u003e1\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003egroup. Numerically T\u003csub\u003e3\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003egroup gained the highest maximum weight (kg) compared to T\u003csub\u003e1\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003eand T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e. The final body weight of the pig at the 9th week of age shows that T\u003csub\u003e3\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003e(11.05\u0026plusmn;0.26 kg) and T\u003csub\u003e2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003e(10.95\u0026plusmn;0.26 kg) show no statistical difference between the two groups, but when compared to T\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e (9.55\u0026plusmn;0.62 kg) group which shows a statistically significant difference (p\u0026lt;0.01).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Average Daily Gain (kg) also shows a linear increase in body weight gain with some depression in the weekly gain till the experimental period. There was a significant difference (p\u0026lt;0.01) between the groups on 28 days where T\u003csub\u003e3\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003ehad the lowest body weight gain 108.30\u0026plusmn;6.03g as compared to T\u003csub\u003e1\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003eand T\u003csub\u003e2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003e(172.32\u0026plusmn;32.81g and 171.26\u0026plusmn;13.01g, respectively). On the 35 days, the data reveals no significant difference between groups, but numerically T\u003csub\u003e3\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003egroups reveal the highest growth during this period. Days 42 and 49 also reveal no significant difference between the treatment groups, but numerically higher values can be observed when compared to the different groups. At 56 days shows a statistically significant difference (p\u0026lt;0.01) where T\u003csub\u003e3\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003e(258.10\u0026plusmn;31.55g) have the maximum highest weight gain followed by T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e (165.69\u0026plusmn;25.46g) and the lowest gain in weight was observed in T\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e (152.54\u0026plusmn;25.40g). The overall average daily body weight gain reveals a statistically significant difference (p\u0026lt;0.05) between the treatment groups, where T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e (162.02\u0026plusmn;4.53g) and T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e (159.02\u0026plusmn;4.45g) groups showed the highest average daily gain as compared to T\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e (142.05\u0026plusmn;8.10g).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the present study, split-weaned piglets showed higher body weights on the 63rd day of rearing. Within the split-weaned groups, though the body weights differed at the time of weaning, a difference was not observed between the weights of split-weaned heavy and split-weaned light by the end of the study. Body weights of the entire litter weaned at 28 days, i.e., early weaned piglets, are higher when compared to conventional weaned piglets at 45 days. The higher body weight might be due to good preweaning nutrition, i.e., mother\u0026rsquo;s milk along with the supplemented special creep feed, may be one of the reasons for this growth in split-weaned piglets. The extra provision of energy and whole milk powder as an extra source of protein in the creep diet might have enhanced the pig feed intake due to the smell and improved uptake which resulted in better growth performance which was reflected at the end of the experiment. The findings of the present study were in accordance with Abraham et al. (2004); Devi et al. (2000); Jayashree and Sivakumar (2013); and Pluske and Williams (1996). Abraham et al. (2004) studied the effect of early weaning, split-weaning and nursery feeding programmes on the growth of Landrace x Desi pigs. They concluded that feeding a special nutrient diet to lighter pigs is beneficial in overcoming the post-weaning lag and enables maximal weight gain. Kalita et al. (2018); Saikia et al. (2018); and Sulabo et al. (2010) reported that during the pre-weaning performance, the litter size at weaning in creep-fed litters was greater by 0.4 pigs per litter. Still, this difference was not significant (P \u0026gt; 0.19). When pigs were categorised based on the creep feed consumption category, eaters had greater postweaning gains and BW than non-eaters and non-creep-fed pigs. Pluske and Williams (1996) reported the mechanisms of increased growth of small piglets following split weaning using a total of 10 sows and 100 piglets. \u0026apos;Light\u0026apos; piglets in split-weaned litters grew 61% faster (P \u0026lt;0.001) than their counterparts in control litters and were 15% heavier (P \u0026lt; 0.01) at weaning. \u0026apos;Heavy\u0026apos; piglets weaned at 22 days were lighter at 29 than their control litter counterparts (P \u0026lt; 0.01). Christensen and Huber (2021); Middelkoop et al. (2020); Tissopi et al. (2020) conducted a study on the creep feed provision in the early stage of life and performed early weaning on piglets. They found that the Body weight was influenced by the interaction of the creep and nursery feed treatment (P\u0026lt;0.001). They concluded that feeding piglets with liquid creep ration had a greater body weight on 21 days than the other experiment pigs. The present study also reveals that there was a significant difference (P\u0026lt;0.05) in the average daily gain (ADG), where T\u003csub\u003e3\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003eperformed better. This might be due to the inclusion of milk powder which provides flavour and odour to the feed inducing more feed intake and thereby increasing the intake of solid feed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDaily Feed Intake\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe data on the daily feed intake of pigs have been presented in Tables 5 and Figures 3. The results show a linear increase in feed intake with maximum total feed consumption in T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e. There was a statistically significant difference (P\u0026lt;0.05) in average daily feed intake from 21-27 to 56-62 days of rearing. The T\u003csub\u003e2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003eand T\u003csub\u003e3\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003egroups show statistically higher feed intake from 21-27 days to 42-48 days and during the last rearing period of 56-62 days the T\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e (524.70 \u0026plusmn;9.22g) group shows the highest feed intake as compared to the other two group T2 and T3 (432.21\u0026plusmn;2.91g and 423.07\u0026plusmn;1.27g, respectively). The Total feed intake (21-62 days) shows no statistically significant difference among the groups.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe better uptake of feed during the initial period of the experiment might be due to early weaning. \u0026nbsp;Early weaning may be responsible for the early intake of solid feed as the piglets were separated from the mother to restrict the piglets from suckling the sow milk, thereby increasing the intake of creep ration. The addition of whole milk powder in the creep feed might also play a role in the uptake of feed as it provides a better odour/smell which the pig prefers and might enhance the piglet feed intake. Less feed intake during conventional weaning might be due to the availability of milk consumption. Campbell et al. (2013); Kalita et al. (2015); and Morrison et al. (2008) also reported a similar finding where pre-weaning creep feed intake stimulates further post-weaning feed intake and decreases the time-to-consumption of post-weaning diets. The inclusion of whole milk powder and gur in the creep feed of T\u003csub\u003e2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003eand T\u003csub\u003e3\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003emight improve the flavour and give a milky odour which might help in the increased intake of solid feed; this also increases the protein and energy contained in the creep ration, thereby increase the body weight gain and result in higher body weight as compared to conventional creep ration given to T\u003csub\u003e1\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003egroup. A similar finding was reported by Abraham et al. (2004); Chen et al. (2021); Heo et al. (2018); Muns \u0026amp; Magowan (2018); Tissopi et al. (2020); Vente-Spreeuwenberg et al. (2004) where the piglets were fed with milk powder in the creep ration of suckling piglets and observed an increase in the ADFI as compared to those of the non-eaters after weaning.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeed Conversion Ratio\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe data on the feed conversion of pigs have been presented in Table 6, and graphically represented in Figure 4. FCR for the experiment was calculated first for T\u003csub\u003e2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003eand T\u003csub\u003e3\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003ewhere for the initial calculation T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e (1.10 \u0026plusmn;0.07 and 1.35 \u0026plusmn;0.08) have a statistically significant better FCR as compared to T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e (1.68 \u0026plusmn;0.07 and 1.69 \u0026plusmn;0.27) and on day 35-41 days T\u003csub\u003e3\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003egroup (1.85 \u0026plusmn;0.24) shows a statistically significant better FCR as compared to T\u003csub\u003e2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003egroup (2.03 \u0026plusmn;0.23). On 42-48 days all the treatments were calculated as the piglets were completely weaned from the mother and are completely on the solid base diet. The FCR during the experiment period shows a significant difference (P\u0026lt;0.05) where T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e (1.65 \u0026plusmn;0.16 and 2.39 \u0026plusmn;0.29) have the highest FCR as compared to T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e (2.49 \u0026plusmn;0.35 and 2.63 \u0026plusmn;0.37) and T\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e (3.31 \u0026plusmn;0.64 and 3.83 \u0026plusmn;0.52). The higher FCR in T\u003csub\u003e2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003eand T\u003csub\u003e3\u0026nbsp;\u003c/sub\u003emay be due to better solid feed consumption, as the animals were weaned early, the piglets consumed solid feed earlier, and the piglets were more adapted to the solid feed as compared to conventional weaning; this may result in better consumption of solid feed which may result in higher body weight. Similar findings were also reported by Faccin et al. (2020); and Suryanarayana and Suresh (2011), who found a higher FCR feed efficiency compared to late-weaned piglets. Also, with the inclusion of milk powder and gur, there was an improvement in the availability of energy and protein in the creep feed of the piglets may result in better digestion and thereby improve the feed efficiency. Singh et al. (2001); and Tissopi et al. (2020) also found that with high protein high energy or with the addition of probiotics + 5% milk powder in creep ration there was slightly higher FCE. However, the overall average FCR shows no significant difference between the treatment groups, this might be due to the weaning stress leading to poor growth after weaning. With the advancement of age, the water content in the body of an animal decreases, which might lead to an increase in the requirement of feed per kg body weight gain. Similar finds were reported by Jayashree and Sivakumar (2013); Kalita, (2012); Kalita et al. (2015).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePiglet survivability, faecal score of piglets and economic impact\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 7 shows the effects of different initiation of creep feeding on litter size at birth and weaning weight, stillbirth and piglet survival rate, the faecal score of piglets and economic impact. \u0026nbsp;It may be noted that during the experimental period mortality was observed to be significantly higher in the Convention weaning period (T\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e) compared to T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e and T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e. The mortality in the groups was observed to be due to the crushing of the piglets by the mother. This might be due to the low viability of the weak piglets. This happens due to the difference in the body weight among the litter, lower viability piglets are unable to obtain the necessary nutrients from the mothers due to prolonged struggles to find and attach to teats, leading them to linger in unsafe areas near the sow, which increasing the likelihood of being crushed. Andersen et al. (2011) observed mortality per cent of 20%; 56% of the deaths were caused by maternal crushing, of which 25% had not received any milk. Twenty-six per cent of the dead piglets had no milk in their stomachs and were assumed to have starved since this was the only cause of death. Ayuso et al. (2020) also observed that the overall mortality rate differed between the piglets with differing birth weights (p = 0.048) where the mortality rate was lowest in higher birth weight (8.3%) compared to normal birth weight (24.2%) and light birth weight (30.6%). The lower mortality in the T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e and T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e might be due to the supplementation of higher nutritive creep feed containing 1% more protein and a 5% increase in the energy concentration. Also, the addition of whole milk powder enhances the flavour and aroma of the creep ration, these enhance the piglets to take more of the feed as compared to the conventional creep ration given to the T1 group. This results in more uniformity in the weight of the piglets until the weaning age which might result in no mortality in the litter of T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e and T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e. The finding is in agreement with Ayuso et al. (2020) where enhancing the creep ration of piglets with short-chain fructose-oligosaccharide shows an increased body weight by 1 kg in newborn suckling piglets and reduced the post-weaning mortality rate by 100%.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile increasing protein and energy content in creep feed primarily impacts body weight gain there was no significant difference between the faecal scoring between the different treatment groups, it\u0026apos;s worth noting that sudden changes in diet composition can sometimes lead to digestive disturbances in animals. The mean faecal score (Table. 7) of T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e at the time of weaning was (2.58) and as well as T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e (2.50) showed no statistically significant difference when compared with T\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e (2.63, p=0.15). However, if the transition is gradual and the feed is well-balanced, the effect on faeces may be minimal. Diarrhoea was not a problem for any of the pigs, and no deaths occurred. In agreement with these results, Ayuso et al., (2020) and Lee and Kim (2009) observed no difference in the faecal score of piglets among treatments. However, in contrast to our study, Wen et al. (2018) observed that piglets fed 17% CP had lower faecal scores with lower incidence of diarrhoea compared with piglets in other treatments (0. 74, P \u0026lt; 0.05), and faecal score significantly increased with increasing CP percentage (19% CP and 23.7% CP) (1.44 and 1.85, P \u0026lt; 0.05). The findings of Ball and Aherne (1987) observed that severe diarrhoea occurs when pigs were weaned at 4 weeks (P\u0026lt;0.10) when receiving high-density dietary energy (P\u0026lt;0.10), or when offered feed ad libitum (P\u0026lt;0.10), showing that both volume of feed consumed and nutrient intake influence occurrence of diarrhoea.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe input source of the farms is mainly from the feeds and medication of the piglets (Table. 7). The cost of creep feed in T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e and T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e was higher due to the inclusion of whole milk powder and gur which increases the protein and energy content of the feed by 1% and 5% respectively. Also, since the piglets in T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e and T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e were weaned early the additional feed cost increases as the feed was consumed by the piglets earlier as compared to the Conventional weaning system. The total expenditure of the pigs for the current experiment reveals that there is a 26.40% increase in input cost in the early weaned group (T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e) and a 27.21% increase in the split weaned group (T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e) as compared to the conventional weaning method (T\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e). However, due to the better final body weight in early weaned groups and split weaned group the profit per piglet is higher as compared to the conventional weaned group by 1.59% and 1.93% respectively. The current finding follows the finding of Bhatia and Chhabra (1985); and Kalita et al. (2018) who found that the Net profit, Net profit /piglet, Input Output Ratio and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) were significantly better in pigs under early weaning (28 and 35 days) management compared to late weaning age (42 days or traditional weaning age of 56 days).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"CONCLUSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eEarly weaning at 28 days, when supplemented with a nutrient-dense creep feed, can significantly enhance piglet growth rates, feed efficiency, and overall profitability, while also reducing post-weaning mortality. Split weaning, which considers the weight differences within litters, can further optimize growth outcomes by addressing the specific needs of piglets based on their initial body weight. Pig producers are encouraged to adopt early weaning strategies combined with high-quality, nutrient-dense creep feeds to maximize piglet growth and health outcomes. By doing so, producers can improve the productivity and profitability of their swine operations while also ensuring better welfare for the piglets. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that both early and split weaning, when paired with a specially formulated creep feed, offer significant advantages over conventional weaning practices.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eConflict of Interest\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere was no external source funding or from any organisation for the research.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eConflict of Interest\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors have declared that no competing interests exist. The products used for this research are commonly and predominantly used products in our area of research.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work was carried out during the PhD research. Author Vanlalhmangaihsanga is responsible for the collection, analyzing and compiling the article.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors thank the Post Graduate Dean, College of Veterinary Sciences, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Punjab, Ludhiana, India, for providing the necessary facilities to complete the study. I am thankful to the Indian Council of Agriculture Research for providing the required animals under the project entitled \u0026ldquo;All Indian Coordinated Research Project on Pig\u0026rdquo;, operational in the Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, for conducting this study. I also want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, for providing a National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Studies (Schedule Tribe).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbraham, J., \u0026amp; Chhabra, A. K. (2004). Effect of Early Weaning, Split-Weaning and Nursery Feeding Programmes on the Growth of Landrace\u0026times; Desi Pigs. \u003cem\u003eTropical Animal Health and Production\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e36\u003c/em\u003e(6), 599\u0026ndash;608.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAndersen, I. L., N\u0026aelig;vdal, E., \u0026amp; B\u0026oslash;e, K. E. (2011). 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P., \u0026amp; Pluske, J. R. (2004). Effect of diet composition on postweaning colibacillosis in piglets. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Animal Science\u003c/em\u003e, 82(8), 2364\u0026ndash;2374. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMorrison, R., Pluske, J., Smits, R., Henman, D., \u0026amp; Collins, C. (2008). Creep feeding, weaning age interactions with creep feeding. \u003cem\u003eFeed Intake Innovations. Australia: Cooperative Research Centre\u003c/em\u003e, 3(10), 3.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMuns, R., \u0026amp; Magowan, E. (2018). The effect of creep feed intake and starter diet allowance on piglets\u0026rsquo; gut structure and growth performance after weaning. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Animal Science\u003c/em\u003e, 96(9), 3815-3823.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePluske, J. R., \u0026amp; Williams, I. H. (1996). Split weaning increases the growth of light piglets during lactation. \u003cem\u003eAustralian Journal of Agricultural Research\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e47\u003c/em\u003e(4), 513\u0026ndash;523.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePustal, J., Traulsen, I., Prei\u0026szlig;ler, R., M\u0026uuml;ller, K., Beilage, T. G., B\u0026ouml;rries, U., \u0026amp; Kemper, N. (2015). Providing supplementary, artificial milk for large litters during lactation: effects on performance and health of sows and piglets: a case study. \u003cem\u003ePorcine Health Management,\u003c/em\u003e 1, 1-8.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eS. S. Bhatia, A. K. Chhabra, D. K. Agrawal (1985). Effect of age at weaning on productivity in pigs. \u003cem\u003eIndian Journal of Animal Research. \u003c/em\u003e19(1), 48-50.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSaikia, K., Kalita, G., Ghorai, S., Buragohain, M., Boruah, K., \u0026amp; Barman, K. C. (2018). Effect of early weaning on mortality, incidence of diseases and haemato-biochemical parameters of large white Yorkshire pigs. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Entomology and Zoology Studies\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e6\u003c/em\u003e(1), 235\u0026ndash;239.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSandhu, K. S., Malik, D. S., Sahoo, S. P., \u0026amp; Saini, A. L. (2018). Effect of weight and age based split weaning on growth performances and welfare of Large White Yorkshire piglets. \u003cem\u003eIndian Journal of Animal Research\u003c/em\u003e, 52(7), 1087\u0026ndash;1090.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSingh, R. N., Singh, S. K., \u0026amp; Srivastava, J. P. (2001). Effect of different stages of weaning and pre-starter diets on the performance of crossbred piglets. \u003cem\u003eIndian Journal of Animal Sciences\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e71\u003c/em\u003e(3), 280\u0026ndash;282.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSnedecor, G. W., \u0026amp; Cochran, W. G. (1994). \u003cem\u003eStatistical methods\u003c/em\u003e, 8th Edn. lowa. State University Press, Ames, lowa.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSulabo, R. C., Jacela, J. Y., Tokach, M. D., Dritz, S. S., Goodband, R. D., Derouchey, J. M., \u0026amp; Nelssen, J. L. (2010). Effects of lactation feed intake and creep feeding on sow and piglet performance. \u003cem\u003eJournal of Animal Science\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e88\u003c/em\u003e(9), 3145\u0026ndash;3153.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuryanarayana, M., \u0026amp; Suresh, J. (2011). Effect of early weaning on behavioural patterns in piglets. \u003cem\u003eTamil Nadu Journal of Veterinary and Animal Science\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e7\u003c/em\u003e(3), 133\u0026ndash;136.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTissopi, M., Bordoloi, J. P., Hussain, J., Ahmed, H. F., \u0026amp; Kro, and R. (2020). Effect of feeding probiotics and milk powder supplemented creep ration on the growth performance and efficiency of feed utilization in pre-weaning piglets. \u003cem\u003eIndian Journal of Animal Nutrition\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e37\u003c/em\u003e(2), 185.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTokach, M. D., Cemin, H. S., Sulabo, R. C., \u0026amp; Goodband, R. D. (2020). Feeding the suckling pig: creep feeding. In The suckling and weaned piglet. pp. 1601\u0026ndash;1606. Wageningen Academic Publishers.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVente-Spreeuwenberg, M. A. M., Verdonk, J., Bakker, G. C. M., Beynen, A. C., \u0026amp; Verstegen, M. W. A. (2004). Effect of dietary protein source on feed intake and small intestinal morphology in newly weaned piglets. \u003cem\u003eLivestock Production Science\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e86\u003c/em\u003e(1\u0026ndash;3), 169\u0026ndash;177.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVinitha, V., Clement, A., Henry, E., Paramasivam, A., Rajarajan, G., \u0026amp; Sivakumar, T. (2022). Consequences of early weaning on behaviour of large white Yorkshire piglets. \u003cem\u003eThe Pharma Innovation Journal\u003c/em\u003e, 11(3), 36\u0026ndash;40. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWen, X., Wang, L., Zheng, C., Yang, X., Ma, X., Wu, Y., Chen, Z., \u0026amp; Jiang, Z. (2018). Fecal scores and microbial metabolites in weaned piglets fed different protein sources and levels. \u003cem\u003eAnimal Nutrition\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e4\u003c/em\u003e(1), 31\u0026ndash;36.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYan, L., Jang, H. D., \u0026amp; Kim, I. H. (2011a). Effects of creep feed with varied energy density diets on litter performance. \u003cem\u003eAsian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e24\u003c/em\u003e(10), 1435\u0026ndash;1439.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYan, L., Jang, H. D., \u0026amp; Kim, I. H. (2011b). Creep feed: Effects of feed flavor supplementation on pre-and post-weaning performance and behavior of piglet and sow. \u003cem\u003eAsian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e24\u003c/em\u003e(6), 851\u0026ndash;856.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"},{"header":"Tables","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 1: Details plan of work\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"547\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 94px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTreatments\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 175px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeaning Method\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 139px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Piglets (Replicates)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 139px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet Before Weaning\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 94px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTreatment 1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 175px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eConventional weaning at 45 days (control)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 139px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 139px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eConventional creep ration (24% CP, 3400 kcal/kg ME)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 94px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTreatment 2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 175px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eEarly weaning at 28 days\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 139px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 139px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSpecial nutrient feed (25% CP, 3570 kcal/kg ME)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 94px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTreatment 3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 175px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSplit weaning at 24 days (heavier piglets) and 28 days (lighter piglets)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 139px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 139px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSpecial nutrient feed (25% CP, 3570 kcal/kg ME)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 2: \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Composition of Creep Ration 1 and Creep Ration 2 for piglet and its calculated nutrient composition\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"547\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIngredient\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConventional Creep Ration (7-11kg)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(Kg)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSNF (7-11kg)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(Kg)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMaize\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e47.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e40.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSoybean Meal\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e32.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e33.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWheat Bran\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMolasses\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eFish Meal/GNC\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eWhole Milk Powder\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOil\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMineral Mixture\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSalt\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e100.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e100.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 547px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCalculated Nutrient Composition\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMoisture %\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.95\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eDry Matter %\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e88.05\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e88.89\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTotal Ash %\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.54\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.98\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAcid Insoluble Ash %\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.39\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCrude Protein %\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e24.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25.38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eEther Extract %\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4.78\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4.93\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCalcium %\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.79\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.02\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 178px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePhosphorus %\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.68\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 185px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.77\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 3: \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Effect of different Weaning Methods and creep ration programs on the weekly average bodyweight.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"912\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT1\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(45 days Weaning)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(N=20)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(28 days Weaning)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(N=20)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT3 (24 and 28 days Weaning Split Weaning)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(N=20)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ep-value\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAt Birth\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.96\u0026plusmn;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.00\u0026plusmn;0.03\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.03\u0026plusmn;0.05\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.49\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.45\u0026plusmn;0.11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.52\u0026plusmn;0.06\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.79\u0026plusmn;0.17\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.22\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.70\u0026plusmn;0.15\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.78\u0026plusmn;0.07\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.87\u0026plusmn;0.22\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.74\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.48\u0026plusmn;0.14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.95\u0026plusmn;0.15\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.77\u0026plusmn;0.27\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.12\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSplit Weaning (24 days heavier piglets)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4.19\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.32 (n=9)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4.62\u0026plusmn;0.25\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5.19\u0026plusmn;0.19\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e (n=20)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4.13\u0026plusmn;0.21\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSplit Weaning (28 days lighter piglets)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4.71\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.18 (n=11)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.23\u0026plusmn;0.21\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.82\u0026plusmn;0.15\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4.98\u0026plusmn;0.30\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.04\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e42\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.55\u0026plusmn;0.31\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.13\u0026plusmn;0.24\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.52\u0026plusmn;0.26\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eConventional Weaning (45 days)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e6.62\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026plusmn;0.26 (n=17)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e49\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.75\u0026plusmn;0.42\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.39\u0026plusmn;0.23\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7.55\u0026plusmn;0.26\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e56\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8.95\u0026plusmn;0.40\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.17\u0026plusmn;0.26\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.36\u0026plusmn;0.14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.49\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 270px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e63\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.55\u0026plusmn;0.62\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.95\u0026plusmn;0.26\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 190px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.05\u0026plusmn;0.26\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 72px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.02\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMean value bearing different superscripts in a row differ significantly (p\u0026lt;0.05)\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 4: Effect of different Weaning Methods and creep ration programs on the average daily gain (g) (ADG) in LWY Pigs\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"912\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 181px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 182px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT1\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(45 days Weaning)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(N=20)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 186px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT2\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(28 days Weaning)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(N=20)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 226px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT3 (24 and 28 days Weaning Split Weaning)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(N=20)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 137px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ep-value\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 181px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 182px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e69.29\u0026plusmn;19.78\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 186px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e100.38\u0026plusmn;9.45\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 226px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e98.14\u0026plusmn;7.75\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 137px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.25\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 181px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 182px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e142.86\u0026plusmn;18.88\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 186px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e132.37\u0026plusmn;6.59\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 226px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e137.63\u0026plusmn;24.39\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 137px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.82\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 181px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 182px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e133.40\u0026plusmn;15.67\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 186px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e168.78\u0026plusmn;11.49\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 226px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e156.21\u0026plusmn;22.43\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 137px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.23\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 181px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 182px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e172.32\u0026plusmn;32.81\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 186px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e171.26\u0026plusmn;13.01\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 226px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e108.30\u0026plusmn;6.03\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 137px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 181px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 182px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e138.26\u0026plusmn;13.20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 186px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e158.31\u0026plusmn;9.58\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 226px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e171.00\u0026plusmn;30.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 137px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.54\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 181px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e42\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 182px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e237.79\u0026plusmn;31.13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 186px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e173.67\u0026plusmn;27.37\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 226px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e191.81\u0026plusmn;22.49\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 137px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.25\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 181px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e49\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 182px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e188.14\u0026plusmn;24.87\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 186px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e192.57\u0026plusmn;29.55\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 226px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e183.22\u0026plusmn;18.26\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 137px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.96\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 181px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e56\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 182px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e152.54\u0026plusmn;25.40\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 186px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e165.69\u0026plusmn;25.46\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 226px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e258.10\u0026plusmn;31.55\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 137px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.03\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 181px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e63\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 182px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e166.36\u0026plusmn;25.74\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 186px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e192.56\u0026plusmn;23.20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 226px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e226.69\u0026plusmn;32.34\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 137px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.35\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 181px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOverall ADF (63-initial)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 182px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e142.05\u0026plusmn;8.10\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 186px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e162.02\u0026plusmn;4.53\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 226px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e159.02\u0026plusmn;4.45\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 137px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.05\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMean value bearing different superscripts in a row differ significantly (p\u0026lt;0.05)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 5: \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Effect of different Weaning Methods and creep ration programs on the average daily feed intake (g) (ADFI) in LWY Pigs\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"547\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT1 (45 days Weaning)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(N=20)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT2 (28 days Weaning)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(N=20)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 130px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT3 (24 and 28 days Weaning Split Weaning)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(N=20)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 55px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ep-value\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21-27\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e135.57\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;9.57\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e173.79\u0026plusmn;1.93\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 130px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e176.07\u0026plusmn;1.59\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 55px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28-34\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e149.50\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;4.55\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e207.23\u0026plusmn;2.20\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 130px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e226.36\u0026plusmn;4.96\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 55px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35-41\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e228.64\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;18.18\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e287.56\u0026plusmn;3.54\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 130px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e308.14\u0026plusmn;4.21\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 55px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e42-48\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e304.21\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;3.00\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e337.97\u0026plusmn;3.74\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 130px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e340.24\u0026plusmn;1.36\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 55px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e49-55\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e397.79\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;24.98\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e361.87\u0026plusmn;5.49\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 130px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e357.14\u0026plusmn;5.54\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 55px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.14\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e56-62\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e524.70\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;9.22\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e432.21\u0026plusmn;2.91\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 130px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e423.07\u0026plusmn;1.27\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 55px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 111px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eTotal Feed Intake (21-62)\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 117px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.18\u0026plusmn;1.24\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.60\u0026plusmn;0.75\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 130px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e12.82\u0026plusmn;0.83\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 55px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.90\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMean value bearing different superscripts in a row differ significantly (p\u0026lt;0.05)\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 6: \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;Effect of different Weaning Methods and creep ration programs on the weekly FCR in LWY Pigs\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"553\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 108px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 114px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT1 (45 days Weaning)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(N=20)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT2 (28 days Weaning)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(N=20)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT3 (24 and 28 days Weaning Split Weaning)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(N=20)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ep-value\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 108px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21-27\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 114px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.10\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.07\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.68\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.07\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 108px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28-34\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 114px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.35\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.08\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.69\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.27\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 108px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e35-41\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 114px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.03\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.23\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.85\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.24\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.02\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 108px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e42-48\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 114px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.89\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.23\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.10\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.22\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.19\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.22\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.66\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 108px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e49-55\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 114px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.31\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.64\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.49\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.35\u003csup\u003eab\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.65\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.16\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 108px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e56-62\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 114px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.83\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.52\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.63\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.37\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.39\u0026nbsp;\u0026plusmn;0.29\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.03\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 108px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOverall FCR\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 114px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.40\u0026plusmn;0.08\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 128px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.25\u0026plusmn;0.04\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 132px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.29\u0026plusmn;0.04\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 71px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.12\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 7:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEffects of different initiation of creep feeding on litter size at birth and weaning weight, stillbirth and piglet survival rate, faecal score of piglets and economic impact\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"623\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eItem\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"3\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 329px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTreatments\u003csup\u003e1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ep-value\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT1\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT2\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eT3\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLitter Size at birth\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"bottom\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10\u0026plusmn;0.04\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"bottom\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10\u0026plusmn;0.08\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"bottom\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10\u0026plusmn;0.02\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeaning Weight (kg)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e6.62 \u0026plusmn;0.26\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5.19\u0026plusmn;0.19\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4.45\u0026plusmn;0.74\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.05*\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStill Birth\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePre-weaning Mortality\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.1\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.001*\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"5\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 623px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFecal Score\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e14\u003csup\u003eth\u003c/sup\u003e day\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4.75\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4.63\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4.5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e21\u003csup\u003est\u003c/sup\u003e day\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.63\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.25\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3.13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.10\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDay of weaning\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.63\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.50\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2.58\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0.15\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"5\" valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 623px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEconomic impact\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal expenditure (Rs. /piglet)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e687.20\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1036.77\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1051.38\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAverage body weight/piglet (kg)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e9.55\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10.95\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11.05\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMarket price (@ Rs. 300/kg)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2865.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3285.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3315.00\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 184px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGross return (Rs/piglet)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2177.80\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 109px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2248.23\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2263.62\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 110px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"porcine-health-management","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"phmj","sideBox":"Learn more about [Porcine Health Management](http://porcinehealthmanagement.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"40813","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/40813/3","title":"Porcine Health Management","twitterHandle":"@animalplantsci","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"LWY piglets, weaning age, creep feed, growth performance, early weaning, split weaning, feed conversion ratio, piglet mortality","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9423722/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9423722/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBackground\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWeaning is a pivotal phase for piglets, impacting their transition from maternal milk to solid feed. This study investigates the effects of different weaning ages and creep feed formulations on the growth performance of LWY (Large White \u0026times; Yorkshire) piglets.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMethodology:\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this investigation was done during 2022\u0026ndash;2023, sixty piglets were divided into three treatment groups: T\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e (conventional weaning at 42 days with standard creep feed), T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e (early weaning at 28 days with a special nutrient formula, SNF, creep feed), and T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e (split weaning, heavy litters at 24 days and lighter litters at 28 days, both with SNF creep feed). The SNF creep feed had 1% more crude protein and 5% more metabolisable energy compared to the standard creep feed. Weekly body weights, average daily gains, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), faecal scores, and mortality rates were recorded.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eResult\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur finding indicated that early weaning (T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e) and split weaning (T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e) significantly improved body weights and average daily gains compared to conventional weaning (T\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e). By the 9th week, T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e and T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e groups had higher final body weights (10.95 kg and 11.05 kg, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01 respectively) than T\u003csub\u003e1\u003c/sub\u003e (9.55 kg). The overall average daily gain was highest in the T\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e (162.02 g) and T\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e (159.02 g) groups (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Early and split weaning also improved FCR and reduced mortality rates due to improved nutritional intake and reduced post-weaning stress. No significant differences were observed in faecal scores among the groups. The study concludes that early and split weaning, supplemented with nutrient-dense creep feed, can enhance piglet growth, improve feed efficiency, and increase profitability, offering substantial benefits over conventional weaning practices.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"The Impact of Weaning Age and Creep Feed Composition on Growth Performance and Health in LWY Piglets","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-20 09:49:33","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9423722/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-24T03:55:56+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"206623962667177482739640081825407651359","date":"2026-04-22T09:30:37+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"331135373129526751930441883138822411791","date":"2026-04-21T01:12:14+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-04-20T10:22:37+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-04-20T08:34:03+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-04-18T09:35:41+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Porcine Health Management","date":"2026-04-15T08:05:08+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"porcine-health-management","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"phmj","sideBox":"Learn more about [Porcine Health Management](http://porcinehealthmanagement.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"40813","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/40813/3","title":"Porcine Health Management","twitterHandle":"@animalplantsci","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"bb042784-ba19-49f1-9a5e-9a8f394c385b","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 20th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-20T10:38:15+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-20 09:49:33","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9423722","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9423722","identity":"rs-9423722","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}