The importance of creep feeding

Virtually all pig producers in Ireland creep feed piglets in farrowing accommodation. Peadar Lawlor tells us why its so important.

A recent review by Muro et al. (2023) found that pre- and post-weaning piglet growth was improved by creep feeding in only 46% and 58%, respectively, of the studies that they examined. Based on this, one might be forgiven for thinking that the benefit from creep feeding is questionable and perhaps not even worth the effort. This would be a huge mistake! And particularly with the large litters that sows are now expected to feed.

The reality is that a multitude of factors affect creep feed consumption by individual pigs within a litter and their consequential pre and post- weaning growth. Below, I hope to outline the factors that need to be considered so that creep feeding on your farm leads to high creep feed intakes by individual pigs and subsequently to increased piglet pre- and post-weaning growth.

Why creep feed piglets in the first place?

1. Supplement sows’ milk in late In late lactation the pig’s energy and protein requirements are not fully met by milk alone. In practice, we are very happy if our pigs average ~8kg at weaning with a pre-weaning average gaily gain of ~250g/day. However, suckling pigs have potential to grow at 400- 500g/day. We can capitalize on this unrealised potential (at least some of it) through effective creep feeding.
2. Stimulate gut and digestive enzyme development
3. Increase piglet weaning weight
4. Stimulate earlier feed exploration by newly weaned pig. Early consumption of feed after weaning can help mitigate the adverse effects of weaning stress
5. Reduce the ‘growth lag’ normally observed in pigs after weaning
6. Increased post-weaning and lifetime growth performance in pigs

Since our industry weans pigs at ~4 weeks of age there is huge scope for our piglets to realise the benefit from creep feeding which might not be the case where pigs are weaned at 3 weeks or less. Therefore, we should be creep feeding.

So why do some studies not find benefits from creep feeding suckling litters? Firstly, not all piglets within a litter eat creep feed and therefore, the greater the proportion of ‘non-eaters’ within a litter or study then the lower the likelihood that the benefits from creep feeding in terms of increased weaning weight and improved post- weaning growth will be seen. Secondly, the quantity of creep feed consumed varies greatly between litters. For this reason it is critical that we concentrate on increasing creep feed intake and the proportion of ‘eaters’ within each creep-fed litter so as to see greater and more consistent benefits from the practice.

Pointers towards achieving  increased creep feed intake

1. Feed a good quality starter diet with a high milk powder Both the consumption of creep feed and the proportion of eaters within a litter can be almost doubled when such a diet is fed instead of a simple vegetable-based diet. It is best to feed a good quality starter diet and this should be the same diet as that fed to pigs after weaning.
2. Provide at least 14 days access to creep feed prior to weaning. Where we wean piglets at 26-28 days it is recommended to commence creep feeding at 10-12 days of lactation. It is only after this that significant levels of creep feed are consumed by piglets.
3. Feed on a ‘little and often’ basis so that the creep-feed offered is always fresh but that there is always creep- feed available for piglets to eat.
4. Always use a feeder for feeding creep feed. A round feeder with a hopper will help keep feed fresh while allowing ad-libitum access.
5. The creep feeder should be sited to one side of the sow’s head rather than at the back or in the middle of the pen. This enables the piglets to learn how to eat from their mothers and this simple change in feeder location has been shown to significantly increase creep feed consumption and piglet weaning weight.
6. Provide creep feed in an ’interactive’ or ‘play’ feeder to stimulate earlier and more frequent feed exploration. Such feeders have been found to increase the proportion of eaters within a litter and the quantity of creep feed consumed by litters of pigs. Creating a ‘play’ feeder may be as simple as tying strips of ribbon to the exterior of the normal creep feeders on the unit.
7. Provide creep feed with a larger pellet The industry has striven to produce smaller and smaller diameter pellets for pig creep and starter diets. However, at least in terms of creep feeding, it has now been shown that pellets of up to 9-12mm result in higher creep feed consumption than smaller pellets.
8. Ensure that creep feed pellets are not too hard. Regardless of pellet size, pellets should not be too hard as this will reduce intake. Feeding larger pellets, as in the previous point, should help in this regard as the pellets should be
9. Feed creep feed in gruel or liquid form. This increases feed consumption, thereby increasing weaning and post-weaning weight.