NEWARK, DE. - In modem
swine confinement systems,
piglets are often weaned at four
weeks of age, with some producers
weaning even earlier in order to
reduce lactation feed costs and
rebreed sows sooner. Piglets
weaned so young usually ex
perience a five to 10 day setback in
growth a period of either no gain
or actual weight loss. One ex
planation could be that at these
ages their digestive systems aren’t
yet capable of handling a new diet.
Experiments over the last 15
years on rats and mice have shown
that at about two weeks of age
these animals start to develop the
intestinal enzymes required to
digest solid food after weaning.
Development of these enzymes is
triggered by cortisone, a
glucocorticoid released in the
adrenal gland in response to
stress. By injecting the animals
with one of two compounds
hydrocortisone (HYD), a synthetic
glucocorticoid, or ACTH, a natural
hormone which stimulates
production and release of
glucocorticoid scientists have
been able to induce digestive en
zymes in rats and mice at about
five days of age instead of 20.
While working on his doctorate
at the University of Illinois, Dr.
Richard P. Chappie, a specialist in
swine nutrition at the University of
Delaware, designed an experiment
to see whether it was possible to
overcome the growth setback in
young piglets by injecting them
with HYD and ACTH to stimulate
early production in digestive en
zymes in the gut in preparation for
a weanling diet. He reported on his
findings at the annual meeting of
the American Society of Animal
Science, August 7 to 10, at the
University of Missouri, Columbia,
MO.
Hormone improves weanling pig performance
He first established acceptable
levels of HYD and ACTH for young
pigs. Then he compared the effects
of these hormones on growth rate
at different weaning ages.
The study involved 21 litters of
piglets seven litters each
weaned on day 14, 21 and 28 of
lactation. Within each litter,
piglets were assigned to three
treatment groups. Two of the
groups received either ACTH or
HYD injections four and two days
before weaning. The third gorup
was used as a control and received
no injections. Within treatment
and weaning age, pigs were
grouped by weight into four pens
upon weaning and fed a corn
soybean meal diet containing one
percent lysine.
Response to the injections varied
depending on the age of the pigs at
weaning. Those weaned at two
weeks which had received HYD
began to eat sooner, and 65 percent
began gaining weight within the
first week. Not only did they
maintain their weight advantage
over the other two groups, but they
also had a significantly higher
survival rate (88 percent com
pared to only 57 percent for the
control and ACTH treatments).
In three and four-week-old pigs,
HYD improved feed intake and
weight gain the first week after
weaning. Thereafter, in three
week-old pigs weight gains were
similar regardless of treatment. In
four-week-old pigs, after the first
week HYD actually depressed
gains compared to the other two
groups. Chappie said this could be
because hormones were injected
on the basis of weight at the time of
injection. These older pigs were
heavier and so received more
HYD, which has been shown to be
detrimental at higher doses. He
also noted this effect in
preliminary studies of dosage
levels.
Chappie said it is not clear
whether the improved growth rate
observed immediately after
weaning in pigs injected with HYD
resulted from enhanced digestive
enzyme capacity, as observed in
earlier studies, or from an un
determined effect of HYD on the
pigs’ food intake control
mechanism, which may have
stimulated earlier feed con
sumption. In the study, only
growth was measured and no
attempt was made to look at small
intestine development along the
Maple Lawn peach festival set
GATCHELLVILLE - Maryland
and Pennsylvania craftsmen
dominate the artistic flare of the
Peachilicious Labor Day Weekend
Harvest Festival at Maple Lawn
Farms for the tenth straight year
using the peach as decoration and
inspiration in their long line of
wares. Over 25 booths have been
sold to date inside the Craft Barn
with more available inside the new
Maple Lawn Farms Farm Market
that should be completed by Sept. 1
for the three-day event.
Running' Sept. 1, 2 and 3, the
festival features peaches on trees,
in baskets, in foods, beverages and
crafts. So far the artisan at
tendance includes: The Warner
Family Crafts with Christmas
decoration; Gladys Locke with fold
art and Nora Stremmel’s bath set
sewing. Craftsmen Mary Delp and
Charlotte Baker, Joanne Myers,
Mary Wise and the McKendrie
Church Women, Charlotte Fin
negan and Charlotte McCauley will
man tables with stitching, pine
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 25,1984—D3
way, so this question could not be
answered.
Solving the problem of arrested
growth or weight loss after early
weaning would benefit swine
producers two ways it would
reduce now feed costs, and shorten
the interval between farrowing
and rebreeding.
“The lactation diet is the most
expensive one in the sow’s
breeding cycle,” Chappie said.
“Cutting lactation time in half
could drastically reduce your feed
bill and speed the arrival of the
next litter.
“I think HYD has potential for
cone and com cob art, dolls, and
fur.
Fabric painting is the forte of
Ealora Hollan, while Ailean Detter
compliments her oil paintings with
peachy bar-be-que. Paul Kauff
man expands his collection of
exotic sea shells and handsome
wood carvings. Other wood
workers include Homer Seibert, D
& D Creations and Louise Harden
who paints on wood. The lapidary
of the Kermit Stong family
returns, while Strawberry Pail
alleviating the setback period after
weaning, but dosage and timing of
application must be worked out to
prevent the detrimental effects
observed with higher dosage
levels,” the scientist said. “Its use
could also permit producers to
wean earlier.”
He said other cortisone com
pounds might be less detrimental
than those used in this study and he
plans to investigate them. “Once
we understand how these
glucocorticoids affect the small
intestine and pancreas, we may be
able to come up with other com
pounds that are more effective.”
makes its first appearance.
The Craft Barn is open noon-6
p.m. daily with musical en
tertainment by Hour Glas running
1-6 daily. Pony rides for the
children, picking in the Cresthaven
orchards and taste testing oodles
of peach foods will round out the
activities over this Labor Day
extravaganza. Craftsmen may
contact Gail McPherson for ap
plications as long as spaces
remain. Deadline is Aug. 24. Call
717/382-4878.
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