We may need to reformulate nursery diets, Newly weaned piglet performance data can be easily misinterpreted. Current weaning practices may encourage refeeding syndrome. Initial weight gain post-weaning is explained by insulin-induced edema.
Background:
Historically we have seen a dramatic gain-to-feed ratio in newly weaned piglets whereby the piglets are gaining almost equal mass to that which they are consuming. However, piglets can struggle to adapt to the sudden change in diet and environment immediately post-weaning which manifests as low feed intake for around the first week. Further, their maintenance requirements will be high in this period due to weaning stress and associated energy demands. Van Kempen and colleagues comment that although this gain-to-feed ratio phenomenon has previously been accepted as simply a remarkable quality of newly weaned piglets, the efficacy should be questioned so as not to misinterpret performance data of nursery piglets.