INFLUENCE OF EARLY WEANING ON PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE IN LARGE WHITE YORKSHIRE PIGS

Abstract

The objective of the study was to assess the influence of early weaning on productive and reproductive performance in Large White Yorkshire pigs under intensive system of management. Eighteen Large White Yorkshire sows and their piglets were selected for the study and were randomly divided to three treatment groups. The piglets were weaned at the age of 28 days (Group-I), 42 days (Group-II) and 56 days (GroupIII). Feed consumption and weekly weight gain was recorded till 120 days of age. For each sow time taken for exhibiting estrus after weaning was recorded. At the end of experimental period (120 days), the overall body weight (kg) of piglets weaned at 28 days, 42 days and 56 days of age was 24.08 ± 0.62, 25.86 ± 0.84 and 23.69 ± 1.03 respectively and they did not show any significant difference with respect to body weight gain (kg). Average daily weight gain (g) for the period upto 120 days was 227.59 ± 7.38, 245.31 ± 9.15 and 212.63 ± 10.85 for 28 days, 42 days and 56 days of weaning respectively. Both 28 days and 42 days weaning groups showed similar and better feed efficiency (3.35 ± 0.06 and 3.31 ± 0.20 respectively) compared to 56 days weaning group (4.15 ± 0.29). Number of days to post-weaning estrus and farrowing to subsequent estrus was significantly (P < 0.01) less in sows when the piglets were weaned at 28 days of age. The findings imply that sows can be mated early after farrowing if the piglets are weaned early which in turn reduces farrowing interval.