The performance of early-weaned piglets following transport: Effect of season and weaning weight

Abstract

Two groups of 48 Cotswold piglets weaned at 17 ± 1 d of age were assigned to road or simulated transport during summer or winter. Following transport [Control (<20 min), 6 h, 12 h or 24 h], piglets were grouped by weaning weight (light, medium and heavy) in pens of four. Body weights were recorded on days 1-8, 10, 12 and 14. From an average weaning weight of 6.28 ± 0.09 kg, piglets lost on average 0.4 ± 0.1 kg. The minimum weight of 5.88 ± 0.1 kg was reached 2.24 ± 0.13 d post weaning and weaning weight was recovered at 3.55 ± 0.16 d post weaning. As transport duration increased from 6 to 24 h, total weight loss increased from 0.33 to 0.45 ± 0.022 kg (P < 0.01). Piglets transported by road in winter had a longer growth check (4.08 vs. 3.18 ± 0.18 d, P < 0.05) showed reduced percent ADG (5.37 vs. 6.61 ± 0.26%, P < 0.05) and lower feed conversion efficiency (FCE) (0.87 vs. 0.96 ± 0.01 kg, P < 0.01) than piglets transported by road in summer. Heavy piglets continued to lose weight longer than light piglets (2.26 vs. 1.7 ± 0.16 d, P < 0.02), although relative weight loss was not affected. During winter piglets exposed to road transport required more time to recover their weaning weight than piglets exposed to simulated transport (4.08 vs. 3.04 ± 0.18 d, P < 0.05). While weaning is a confounding effect, these results suggest that longer transport (>12 h) and transport in winter may cause additional stress to early-weaned piglets. Some factors of road transport in winter, possibly driving differences or fluctuating temperatures also negatively affected piglet recovery from weaning.