Effect of weaning age on growth performance of crossbred pigs reared up to 70 kg body weight under intensive system

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of weaning age on growth performance of crossbred piglets reared up to 70 kg body weight (BW) under intensive system from May to November 2013. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design where weaner pigs were randomly allocated to three weaning ages (treatment) of 21, 28 and 35 days. Each treatment had 16 weaner pigs with four replicates (pen) each having four pigs of equal sex. The study was divided into three rearing periods: weaning phase (WP) (weaning to 70 days), grow to finish period (GFP) (70 days to 70 kg BW) and wean to finish period (WFP) (weaning to 70 kg BW). The growth parameters studied were BW, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and days on test. Data were analysed using General Linear Model Procedures of Statistical Analysis System. The results showed that BW for piglets weaned at 21 days of age was significantly