Effects of intermittent suckling on the performance and digestive efficiency of Iberian piglets weaned at 35 days of age F. Gómez-Carballar b , M.A. Aguinaga a , R. Nieto a , J.F. Aguilera a, ⁎ a Instituto de Nutrición Animal, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), Camino del Jueves s/n, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain b Sánchez Romero Carvajal Jabugo S.A., Avda de Jerez s/n, 41012 Seville, Spain article info abstract Article history: Received 7 April 2008 Received in revised form 16 December 2008 Accepted 18 December 2008 During two consecutive replicates Iberian sows (n = 20) were subjected either to a conventional lactation (C) or intermittent suckling (IS). Piglets in the C treatment had free access to the dam. Piglets on IS treatment were separated from the sow during 6 h on days 29 and 30, 8 h on days 31 and 32, and 10 h on days 33 and 34. Litters on both treatments were weaned at 35 days of age and offered a starter diet until day 60 of age. The apparent digestibility (ApD) of nutrients and gross energy (GE) of the post-weaning diet was measured using Cr 2 O 3 as external indigestible marker. Litters on IS tended to increase solid feed intake during the milk restriction (125 ± 12 vs. 70±19 g piglet -1 day -1 ; P =0.08). Feed intake was improved by IS during the second week post-weaning (676±17 vs. 497±12 g piglet -1 day -1 , P b 0.01), but differences were totally offset after the 7th week of age. Differences in average growth rate of litters on C and IS treatments did not attain statistical significance during the period of restriction and in the first week post-weaning. Litters on IS showed increased growth rate during the second week post-weaning (422 ± 31 vs. 289 ± 33 g piglet -1 day -1 ; P = 0.01), but slower daily gains from the 3rd week post-weaning to 60 day of age than litters on C treatment (371 ± 14 vs. 432±15 g piglet -1 day -1 ; P b 0.05). Nevertheless, neither at weaning nor at 60 days of age average body weight of piglets differed between treatments (7.71 ± 0.31 vs. 7.94± 0.30 kg for C and IS, at 35 days of age, 15.62±0.65 vs. 16.20±0.62 kg, at day 60). The apparent digestibility of nutrients of the starter diet offered after weaning remained unaffected by the treatment, except for a trend for higher ApD of GE for the piglets on IS treatment (P =0.08). ApD for CP and GE was 78.1±0.6 and 78.8±0.3%, respectively. No significant differences in the proportions of total viscera and gastrointestinal tract to empty body weight (EBW) were observed between C and IS piglets at weaning and 60 d of age. In conclusion, the increase in feed intake observed prior and early after weaning as a consequence of intermittent suckling during the last week of 35 d lactation had no effect on nutrient digestibility measured at two weeks after weaning and failed on improving Iberian piglet performance. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Intermittent suckling Growth rate Feed intake Digestibility Iberian piglets 1. Introduction In the earliest stage of its life the newborn pig experiences a series of physiological changes which increases its capacity to survive without the dam. Weaning implies a sudden disrupt with the reliable and supportive maternal environment which includes the radical change from a liquid milk based diet to solid food. The transient stage of nutritional shortage immediately after weaning is complicated by the stressful events involved in the abrupt change into a new environment and the establish- ment of hierarchies among members of other litters. As a result, feed intake and growth rate are reduced post-weaning and the piglets are more susceptible to develop diarrhoea (Nabuurs, 1998). Provision of solid feed before weaning (at 4 weeks or earlier) enhances nutrient intake which in turn prevents degeneration of intestinal structure (Nabuurs et al., 1993), stimulates the production of the digestive enzymes necessary Livestock Science 124 (2009) 41–47 ⁎ Corresponding author. Tel.: +34 958 572757; fax: +34 958 572753. E-mail address: jose.aguilera@eez.csic.es (J.F. Aguilera). 1871-1413/$ – see front matter © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2008.12.006 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Livestock Science journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/livsci