In our experience, a rotary feeder with a hopper is the best type of feeder to use for creep feeding. With this feeder, we were able to significantly increase the number of creep feed eaters compared to conventional bowl feeders and pan feeders (Table 5). The conical shape, curved rim and wings of the feeder with hopper prevented piglets from rooting, standing over or pushing creep feed out of the troughs. It appears that the design of the feeder with the hopper kept pigs from wasting feed, while ensuring that feed was continuously available in the troughs.

The hopper can also be adjusted daily to manage the amount of feed that flowed out of the gap, thus controlling the level of feed in the trough and extending its freshness. This also makes the feeder more practical, because it only requires daily checking of hoppers rather than sprinkling and managing creep feed numerous times in a day.

Finally, changing the taste and aroma of the creep feed also did not increase the proportion of eaters (Table 5). However, there is a trend for improvements in daily gains and an increase in initial feed intake when piglets are exposed to a flavor prior to weaning via the creep feed and fed starter diets that contained the same flavor.

Diet Composition and Form

Creep feeds are usually designed to be highly digestible, complex and palatable. This is to match the digestive capacity of these young pigs and to stimulate feed intake. Creep feeds usually contain a high percentage of milk products, processed ingredients and higher levels of amino acids, digestible energy and fat. An example of a highly complex creep diet with the diet specifications is shown in Table 6.

Creep feeds can also come in different forms, usually in meal or mini-pellet form. Extruding, expanding or gels are other forms employed for delivery of creep feed. These processes may help improve the digestibility of the feed or be more easily consumed.

However, there is little scientific data to indicate that one form of creep feed delivery is clearly superior.

Summary

Further research is needed to investigate methods by which creep feeding behavior can be encouraged. However, our recommendations when using creep feeding are to use a feeder that minimizes waste and initiates access to creep feed from three to seven days prior to weaning.