Application of Creep Feed and Phytase Super-Dosing as Tools to Support Digestive Adaption and Feed Efficiency in Piglets at Weaning

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Weaning is a highly stressful period in the pig production cycle, often resulting in digestive dysfunction, reduced performance and economic losses. Feeding strategies pre- and post-weaning can be used to modulate gut development and function, thereby reducing the risk of gastrointestinal disorders. The current study investigated whether offering creep feed to the suckling piglet or supplementing high levels of phytase post-weaning could reduce stress and support piglet adaption to weaning. Results suggest that while these approaches did not directly reduce stress, they can improve feed efficiency in weaning piglets by enhancing gastric function, phytate breakdown and myo-inositol provision. Therefore, application of these practices may allow piglets to better adapt to weaning and promote performance thereafter. ABSTRACT: A total of 64 piglets were used in a 35-day study to evaluate whether creep feeding piglets on the sow or super-dosing phytase to piglets post-weaning can be used as a tool to reduce stress and support adaption to weaning. Treatments consisted of creep or no creep feed being offered pre-weaning and with or without phytase supplementation at 2000 FTU/kg post-weaning. Blood samples were collected from eight piglets per treatment on days 0 (weaning), 7 and 21 post-weaning to determine plasma cortisol and myo-inositol concentrations. Four piglets per treatment (n = 16) were administered Heidelberg pH capsules 1 week prior to weaning, on the day of weaning, as well as 7 days and 21 days post-weaning, with readings monitored over a 3 h period. In the first week post-weaning, creep-fed piglets had higher daily gains (0.23 vs. 0.14 kg/d, p < 0.05) and a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR, 0.99 vs. 1.35, p < 0.01), compared to non-creep-fed pigs. At 21 days post-weaning, irrespective of creep feed, phytase supplementation reduced FCR (1.10 vs. 1.18, p = 0.05) of piglets. Average real-time stomach pH was lower in creep-fed piglets at 1 week prior to weaning (pH 3.2 vs. 4.6, p < 0.001) and on day of weaning (pH 3.1 vs. 3.7, p < 0.01). Following weaning, phytase reduced average stomach pH of piglets at days 7 (pH 2.6 vs. 3.3, p < 0.001) and 21 (pH 2.2 vs. 2.6, p < 0.01). Both cortisol and myo-inositol concentrations in plasma decreased with age; however, cortisol levels were unaffected by either treatment. Plasma myo-inositol concentrations were higher in creep-fed piglets at day of weaning (p < 0.05) and with phytase super-dosing on day 21 (p < 0.001). These findings demonstrate that both creep feeding and phytase super-dosing are useful practices to encourage better adaption to weaning and support piglet performance. This response was not related to reduced stress in piglets, as determined by cortisol levels, but instead appears to relate to improved gastric conditions for digestion, phytate degradation and myo-inositol provision in piglets.