Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Document Type
Thesis
Date of this Version
8-1972
Citation
Thesis (M.S.)—University of Nebraska—Lincoln, 1972. Department of Animal Science.
Abstract
Much interest has developed in recent years in a procedure to rear neonatal pigs by use of automatic feeding equipment.Several devices of similar design have been used for both sterile, disease free environments utilizing hysterectomy or cesarean-derived pigs and for pigs born normally and taken from the sow at 8-36 hours post-partum.
The purpose of the research reported herein was to determine if an automated feeding device could be used to rear naturally-farrowed and hysterectomy-derived pigs with good performance and survival rate. Three experiments were conducted using 34 crossbred neonatal piglets to determine the feasibility of rearing newborn pigs with an automatic feeding device.In addition, three trials were conducted with 49 crossbred hysterectomy-derived pigs to study the requirements of disease-free pigs in terms of diets and management considerations.
The major problem encountered throughout the six tests was microbial scours.Rotation of the drugs being used apparently countered the buildup of resistance in the organism(s) responsible.The hysterectomy pigs were more susceptible to scours due to a lack of passive immunity.Pig weight at birth appeared to be the most significant factor affecting survival.This relationship was true for both normal birth and hysterectomy-derived pigs.
Advisor:E. R. Peo, Jr.
Comments
Copyright 1972, the author. Used by permission.