By Andi Anderson
At the University of Illinois, a recent study explored how the way baby pigs, or piglets, are fed affects their growth, behavior, and usefulness in medical research. The goal was to connect farm practices with biomedical science.
In U.S. farms, underfed piglets are usually moved to other mother pigs. In Europe, many are raised with milk replacers. This method mirrors feeding in medical studies where pigs are used to learn about human health. Researchers wanted to know which feeding style works best.
The study tested 85 piglets that were fed artificial milk from two days old. Half could drink freely (ad libitum), while the others got carefully measured meals based on body weight. Scientists tracked their weight, insulin levels, soft tissue growth, and behaviour over 15 days.
Results showed the piglets that drank freely gained more weight. However, both groups had similar muscle and fat levels at the end. The key difference was how fast they grew. Researchers believe this might be linked to how insulin helps build muscle.
The team found that pigs drinking larger, less frequent meals had higher insulin levels for longer. This helped them build muscle more easily than those on small, frequent feedings.
Cameras showed that pigs on scheduled feedings spent more time near their milk bowls, showing natural rooting behaviors. This could reflect their instinct to stay close to a mother pig for feeding.
The study also included toys for the piglets, which helped improve their comfort and behavior.
These findings are important. On farms, better feeding can reduce piglet injuries. In labs, it can improve how pigs are raised for research. Since pigs share many traits with humans, especially in digestion and brain function, this study helps improve both animal care and scientific results.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-grafvision
Categories: Illinois, Livestock