Water inclusion in piglet diet after weaning

ABSTRACT The performance and morphometry of intestinal villi were evaluated in piglets fed liquid diets with different water levels compared to dry diets during the first week after weaning. The experiments were using 48 piglets around 7 kg, weaned at 25 days of age, and housed in 24 bays for seven days. A completely randomized design was adopted with six treatments: dry feed (control) provided in the feeder and water provided in the drinker; control diet moistened with water in a 1:1 ratio (feed/water) and access to the drinker (1:1+water); control diet moistened with water in a 1:2 ratio (feed/water) and access to the drinker (1:2+water); control diet moistened with water in a 1:3 ratio (feed/water) and access to the drinker (1:3+water); control diet moistened with water in a ratio of 1:2 (feed/water) without access to the drinker (diet 1:2/no water); control diet moistened with water in a ratio of 1:3 (feed/water) without access to the drinker (diet 1:3/no water). In the 1:2+water and 1:3+water diets, there was an improvement in piglet performance compared to the dry diet. The 1:2+water diet improved the duodenal villus/crypt ratio and the 1:2+water and 1:3+water diets improved the jejunal villus/crypt ratio compared to the dry diet.