The objective was to investigate the effect of split-suckling on the performance of piglets during the first three days of life. Split-suckling implies that not all piglets have access to the udder at all times; i.e. the litter is split-in two or more groups being nursed in alternating order, or only the heaviest piglets are enclosed temporarily; in order to benefit colostrum consumption and survival of disadvantaged neonates. The experiment included three treatments: no split-suckling (CON) (n = 111), split-suckling was applied only in the first day of life (SS1d) (n = 174), and split-suckling was applied during the first three days of life (SS3d) (n = 184). Split-suckling involved alternated nursing of two groups every three hours in order to privilege nursing of the third group for 12 h per day. The two groups which were removed from the sow included the heavier piglets either born in first part or second part of parturition. Group sizes of these two groups were equal and depended on the litter size and the criterion that at least 10 piglets remained with the sow during split-suckling. Split-suckling started after farrowing was completed. In total, 469 piglets from 28 litters were followed for colostrum intake, growth and mortality. Colostrum intake did not differ between treatments. However, colostrum intake of heavy piglets in SS1d and SS3d were lower when compared to CON (P < 0.05). Growth at 24 h post-farrowing was lower in SS3d (51 ± 5 g) as compared to CON (82 ± 7 g) (P = 0.001), and intermediate in SS1d (65 ± 6 g). Further, growth at 72 h post-farrowing was lower in SS3d (82 ± 4 g/d) as compared to CON (110 ± 6 g/d) and SS1d (101 ± 4 g/d) (P < 0.001). Thus, heavier piglets in SS1d were able to catch up growth loss, contracted during first day of life, by the third day of life. When piglets were split-suckled for three days, growth continued to be impaired. Furthermore, mortality at 72 h post-farrowing did not differ between treatments but was higher amongst the non-isolated piglets within SS3d compared to those within SS1d (P = 0.007). In conclusion, piglet performances were not improved nor impaired when split-suckling was applied during the first day of life. However and on the contrary, growth was impaired when litters were intensively split-suckled during first three days of life.

目的是研究在出生后的前三天，剖乳对仔猪生产性能的影响。分头哺乳意味着并不是所有的仔猪在任何时候都可以进入乳房。例如，将仔猪分成两组或两组，以交替的顺序进行护理，或者暂时只将最重的仔猪围起来；为了有利于初乳的消费和弱势新生儿的生存。实验包括三种治疗方法：不进行分乳（CON）（n  = 111），仅在生命的第一天（SS1d）（n  = 174）进行分乳，而在前三天进行分乳生命天数（SS3d）（n = 184）。分头哺乳涉及每三小时交替两组护理，以使第三组每天有12 h的特权护理。从母猪中移出的两组包括在分娩的第一部分或第二部分出生的较重的仔猪。两组的大小相等，取决于窝产仔数和分批哺乳期间母猪至少有10头仔猪的标准。分娩完成后开始分乳。总共追踪了来自28窝的469头仔猪的初乳摄入，生长和死亡率。不同治疗之间的初乳摄入量没有差异。然而，与CON相比，SS1d和SS3d中重仔猪的初乳摄入量较低（P<0.05）。分娩后24 h，SS3d（51±5 g）的生长低于CON（82±7 g）（P  = 0.001），而SS1d（65±6 g）则中等。此外，与CON（110±6 g / d）和SS1d（101±4 g / d）相比，SS3d（82±4 g / d）分娩后72 h的生长较低（P <0.001）。因此，SS1d中较重的仔猪能够在生命的第一天到生命的第三天赶上生长损失。当仔猪被吸吮三天时，生长继续受到损害。此外，分娩后72 h的死亡率在不同处理之间没有差异，但SS3d内非隔离仔猪的死亡率高于SS1d内的仔猪（P = 0.007）。总之，在出生的第一天进行剖腹吸乳时，仔猪的性能不会得到改善或受损。但是，相反，在出生后的前三天，当仔猪被强烈地分开吸吮时，生长会受到损害。