Abstract:

The influence of pen density, weaning age, and feeder space on serum haptoglobin concentration in young growing swine

Charles J. Francisco, DVM, MS; David P. Bane, DVM, PhD; Ronald M. Weigel, PhD; and Laura Unverzagt, DVM

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This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of production stressors (weaning age, pen density, and feeder space limitation) on serum haptoglobin (HPT) and average daily gain (ADG) in healthy growing pigs. Pen stressors were created by varying pen size (0.1 m2 per pig or 0.3 m2 per pig) and limiting feeder space (1 or 2 pigs per feeder space) during nursery production. Two groups of pigs, 32 pigs per group, were weaned at 2 or 3 weeks of age. Each group was randomly divided and placed into one of four pens: 1) high density, feeder space limited, 2) high density, feeder space unlimited, 3) low density, feeder space limited, or 4) low density, feeder space unlimited.Two replications were conducted. A repeated measures multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the data. Our serum HPT and ADG results suggest 2-week-old pigs may adapt to the production stressors (weaning, pen density, feeder space) better than 3-week-old pigs.

Keywords: facility, haptoglobin

RIS citationCite as: Francisco CJ, Bane DP, Weigel RM, et al. The influence of pen density, weaning age, and feeder space on serum haptoglobin concentration in young growing swine. J Swine Health Prod 1996;4(2):67-71.

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