Effectiveness of early feeding of suckling piglets under different feeding systems for prestarters

The article compares the effect of early introduction of dry superprestarter 2–14 Lonolac Piglet (Kaudice) and liquid feeding with Piggy Mill (Activepro) milk replacer from the second day of life on the productivity of sows and growth of piglets. It was found that the use of liquid milk replacer contributed to the improvement of piglet survival by 4.1 %, an increase of 12.1 % in average daily and absolute gains, an increase of 9.2 % in the average weight of one animal and a 5.2 % increase in their number in the nest at weaning and a 14.9 % increase in the weight of the nest of piglets as a whole at this time compared to analogues that were fed with dry granulated superprestarter mixed feeds. It is proven that the use of different systems of feeding suckling piglets revealed different indicators of their consumption during the suckling period. Thus, in the experimental group, a 91.5 % lower amount of superprestarter feed was recorded, and its cost was similarly lower. However, due to the use of milk replacer, the total consumption of all prestarter products was 62.2 % higher per head and 44.7 % higher per kg of gain in animals receiving liquid feed compared to their counterparts using dry superprestarter feed. It has been proven that the use of liquid feed for suckling piglets resulted in a 49.1 % reduction in the incidence of diarrhea, which, in turn, resulted in a 22.8 % reduction in the cost of treating one head and a 31.1 % reduction per kg of gain. This positive effect was possible due to an increase in the cost of prevention by 21.7 % per animal and by 8.6 % per kilogram of gain. However, total veterinary costs increased by 18.8 % per weaned piglet and by 6.0 % per kilogram of gain. In addition, the costs of feed, prevention, and treatment in the group with liquid feeding were significantly higher, namely by 189.6 % per weaned piglet and by 62.0 % per kilogram of gain. It was determined that liquid feeding of suckling piglets, compared to dry, was characterized by a decrease in the share of costs for sow maintenance in the cost of one piglet by 2.06 % and an increase in the share of costs for preventive and treatment measures by 0.87 %, pre-starter feeds by 3.43 % and depreciation of feeding equipment in the operating cost by 0.18%. It was established that due to the 1.4% lower cost of one weaned piglet and its 12.1 % higher sales value due to the greater live weight, the income in the group of animals with liquid feeding was 41.8 % higher, which provided 19.85 % better profitability of obtaining and raising one piglet.