EFFECT OF A SKIM MILK SUPPLEMENT ON GROWTH AND BODY COMPOSITION OF SUCKLED PIGS

Sows’ milk contains more fat than is required for optimal growth of the baby pig. The possibility of diverting this excess energy from deposition as fat to promotion of protein synthesis by providing a high protein-low fat skim milk supplement from 2 to 20 days of age during the suckling period was investigated. Pigs that received the milk supplement gained 12.5% more (P   0.05) in weight gain between the two treatment groups. Although no significant differences were found (P > 0.05) in carcass composition between the pigs of the two treatment groups, there seemed to be a slightly greater tendency, based on protein: ether extract ratio, for the pigs on the milk supplement to synthesize more protein than the pigs of the control group between 2 and 35 days of age. There was no significant difference in carcass composition at market weight.