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Review
. 2023 Jun 30;13(13):2156.
doi: 10.3390/ani13132156.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Creep Feeding Effects on Piglet Pre- and Post-Weaning Performance

Bruno B D Muro  1   2 , Rafaella F Carnevale  1 , Matheus S Monteiro  2 , Renjie Yao  3   4 , Felipe N A Ferreira  5 , Clarice S S Neta  5 , Francisco A Pereira  1   5 , Dominiek Maes  3 , Geert P J Janssens  4 , Glen W Almond  6 , Cesar A P Garbossa  1 , Tatiane T N Watanabe  6 , Diego F Leal  1   2
Affiliations
Review

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Creep Feeding Effects on Piglet Pre- and Post-Weaning Performance

Bruno B D Muro et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the effects of providing piglets with creep feed during lactation on piglet pre- and post-weaning performance. A total of 20 articles met the inclusion criteria. Creep feeding in lactation improved pre-weaning piglet performance in 46% of the studies selected, while 58% of the included studies reported that creep feeding in lactation improved piglet performance during the nursery phase. Creep feeding increased the average piglet body weight (creep = 7.23 ± 0.30, no creep = 6.96 ± 0.31; p = 0.03) and litter weight (creep = 81.2 ± 4.18, no creep = 76.4 ± 4.22; p < 0.001) at weaning. The average piglet body weight and litter weight were positively associated (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) with total creep feed intake. Creep feeding of piglets for more than 14 days increased (p = 0.003) the litter weight at weaning compared to litters not provided or provided for shorter periods with creep feed. The present work strengthened the notion that creep feeding during lactation presents opportunities for improving weaning weights and post-weaning piglet performance compared to litters not provided or provided for shorter periods with creep feed.

Keywords: creep feeding; growth performance; lactation; piglet; weaning.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram of studies identified and included for qualitative and quantitative synthesis of studies investigating the effects of creep feeding on piglet performance.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Principal component analysis among variables associated with creep feed provision and consumption, variables associated with piglet/litter performance during lactation, and variables associated with piglet/litter traits.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Association between litter creep feed intake and duration of creep feeding (p < 0.001; R2 = 0.40). The codification of the studies was included as a random variable.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The effect of different durations of creep feeding on the litter weight at weaning; no creep: litters that did not have access to creep feed; Creep 1–14: litters that had free access to creep feed from one to 14 days; Creep 14+: litters that had free access to creep feed for 14 days or more. a,b p = 0.003.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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