THE INFLUENCE OF THE MINERAL LEVEL IN DRINKING-WATER AND THE THERMAL ENVIRONMENT ON THE PERFORMANCE AND INTESTINAL FLUID FLUX OF NEWLY-WEANED PIGS

The effects of drinking water containing high levels of dissolved mine rals including sulphate (HMW) and a chilled environment on the perform ance of newly-weaned pigs were evaluated in three replicate 10-d trial s. In each trial, 12, 28-d-old pigs were taken from the sow and alloca ted by weight and litter to treatment groups following a 2 x 2 factori al arrangement of HMW vs low-mineral drinking water (HMW) and normal ( heat lamp) vs chilled (21 degrees C) pen temperature. No interactive e ffects of water mineral level and pen temperature on any of the measur ements of health and productivity were found. Pigs given the HMW consu med more water on d 7 to 10 and 1 to 10 (P < .05) and more feed from d 4 to 6, 7 to 10, and 1 to 10 (P < .05), had greater weight gains from d 7 to 10 and 1 to 10 (P < .05), and had higher scour scores on d 4 a nd 7 (P < .05). Pigs maintained in a chilled environment had lower bod y weights on d 3, 6, and 10 (P < .05), lower feed conversion efficienc y from d 7 to 10 (P < .05) and 1 to 10 (P < .01), and lower water inta ke from d 4 to 6 (P < .05) and 7 to 10 (P < .01). Pen temperature had no effect on feed intake and scour scores. There was a correlation (P < .05) between feed intake and growth rates throughout the trial, betw een feed intake and water intake on d 4 to 6, 7 to 10, and 1 to 10, an d between water intake and growth rate on d 7 to 10. This study sugges ts that drinking water containing high levels of dissolved minerals ma y promote increased water and feed intake during the immediate postwea ning period.