It is common practice to wean pigs at five weeks of age, or less, on to a high protein diet (>200g crude protein/kg). However, a transient hypersensitivity to the dietary protein may pre-dispose the pig to post weaning diarrhoea and the relatively high level of protein in both early weaner rations (Bertschinger, et al. 1979) and creep feeds (Miller et al. 1984) may exacerbate the problem.

We report here some preliminary results from a feeding trial at Terrington Experimental Husbandry Farm. Animals were allocated at 7 days of age, whilst still suckling, to one of four treatments. Groups 1 and 2 were fed a high protein (220 g CP/kg DM) diet and groups 3 and 4 were fed a low protein (160 g CP/kg DM) experimental diet. Both of the diets were balanced such that they provided 17.2 MJ/kg digestible energy with a lysine value of 16 g/kg CP. Neither diet contained any antibiotics. Groups 1 and 3 were fed the ration as a creep from 7 days. Animals were weaned at approximately 21 days into kennels maintained at 29°C for the first week, 28°C for the second week and gradually reduced to 20°C during the third week.