Pelleting of diet for weaning pigs of different initial weights

Physical form effect of the pre-starter diet supplied during the post-weaning period from 21 to 41 days of age on diet digestibility and animal performance in terms of zootechnical performances of light-weight (5.82kg) and heavy-weight weaning piglets (6.32kg) was evaluated, as well as the residual effects of the treatments until slaughter. Forty-eight female pigs at 21 days of age were evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2x2 factorial scheme (meal/pelleted diet vs. light-weight/heavy-weight piglets), with six replicates for the nursery phase and 12 replicates for the growing-finishing phases. Animals received the experimental diet from 21 to 41 days of age. Data were analyzed with ANOVA, setting the significance in 5%. Feeding with the pelleted diet resulted in a 39% greater daily weight gain and a 28% greater feed conversion rate for piglets from weaning to 40 days of age. Pelleting also resulted in a decrease in feed wastage during the first week after weaning (9.15% for meal diet vs. 1.68% for pelleted diet) and; consequently, the results showed an increase in feed consumption. Digestible energy of the pelleted diet (3,626kcal kg-1) was greater than that of the meal diet (3,424kcal kg-1). The physical form improved the performance of weaning pigs and the digestibility of the pre-starter diet, but there wasn't residual effect of the physical form and the weight of a piglet at weaning on live weight at slaughter. RESUMO: Avaliou-se o impacto da forma física da dieta pré-inicial em leitões leves (5,82kg) e pesados (6,32kg) no período pós-desmame sobre o desempenho zootécnico e digestibilidade da dieta, bem como o efeito residual dos tratamentos até o abate. Foram utilizados 48 leitões fêmeas com 21 dias de idade, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 2x2 (farelada/peletizada vs. leitões leves/pesados), com seis repetições na fase de creche e 12 repetições na fase de crescimento e terminação. Os leitões receberam as dietas experimentais dos 21 aos 40 dias de idade. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância ao nível de 5% de probabilidade. Observou-se que a peletização melhorou em 39% o ganho de peso diário e 28% a conversão alimentar do desmame aos 40 dias de idade. Ao considerar a redução de desperdício da ração peletizada (9,15 vs. 1,68%) na primeira semana pós-desmame, a peletização da dieta proporcionou aumento do consumo de ração. Ao avaliar a digestibilidade da dieta, observou-se