Effects of intermittent suckling on the performance and digestive efficiency of Iberian piglets weaned at 35 days of age

Abstract During two consecutive replicates Iberian sows ( n  = 20) were subjected either to a conventional lactation (C) or intermittent suckling (IS). Piglets in the C treatment had free access to the dam. Piglets on IS treatment were separated from the sow during 6 h on days 29 and 30, 8 h on days 31 and 32, and 10 h on days 33 and 34. Litters on both treatments were weaned at 35 days of age and offered a starter diet until day 60 of age. The apparent digestibility (ApD) of nutrients and gross energy (GE) of the post-weaning diet was measured using Cr 2 O 3 as external indigestible marker. Litters on IS tended to increase solid feed intake during the milk restriction (125 ± 12 vs . 70 ± 19 g piglet − 1 day − 1 ; P  = 0.08). Feed intake was improved by IS during the second week post-weaning (676 ± 17 vs . 497 ± 12 g piglet − 1 day − 1 , P vs . 289 ± 33 g piglet − 1 day − 1 ; P  = 0.01), but slower daily gains from the 3rd week post-weaning to 60 day of age than litters on C treatment (371 ± 14 vs . 432 ± 15 g piglet − 1 day − 1 ; P vs . 7.94 ± 0.30 kg for C and IS, at 35 days of age, 15.62 ± 0.65 vs . 16.20 ± 0.62 kg, at day 60). The apparent digestibility of nutrients of the starter diet offered after weaning remained unaffected by the treatment, except for a trend for higher ApD of GE for the piglets on IS treatment ( P  = 0.08). ApD for CP and GE was 78.1 ± 0.6 and 78.8 ± 0.3%, respectively. No significant differences in the proportions of total viscera and gastrointestinal tract to empty body weight (EBW) were observed between C and IS piglets at weaning and 60 d of age. In conclusion, the increase in feed intake observed prior and early after weaning as a consequence of intermittent suckling during the last week of 35 d lactation had no effect on nutrient digestibility measured at two weeks after weaning and failed on improving Iberian piglet performance.