Effect of age at weaning and replacement of skimmed-milk powder by fish-meal on growth rate survivability in T and D (Tamworth x desi) piglets

The present studies were carried out on 317 piglets of 40 sours maintained at Pig Breeding Farm of Ranchi Veterinary College, Ranchi with an objective to replace the skimmed-milk power of creep diets by fish-meal to cut down the cost per unit gain. Analysis of variance showed nonsignificant effect of age at weaning and type of feed on daily weight gain at all the stages of growth except during fifth-eighth week. But the difference in daily gain between 2 types of ration was nonsignificant within each weaning group. However, almost similar daily weight gain ranging from 123.93 to 138.91 g in 4 experimental groups was recorded during 8th to 12th weeks of age. There was nonsignificant difference in survivability of piglets of various dietary and weaning groups during different stages of growth from birth to 12th week of age.