Improving piglet survival with creatine and caffeine

Low pre-weaning survival has a negative impact on the efficiency and profitability of the Australian pork industry.

It has been demonstrated previously that caffeine and creatine improve number of stillborns, and survival, viability and growth, respectively.

This project aimed to determine whether caffeine and creatine supplementation in the lead up to farrowing would reduce stillbirths, increase piglet viability at birth, and improve pre-weaning survival.

Value for producers:

• Adding creatine to gilt diets can improve piglet vitality and reduce pre-foster mortality
• The addition of caffeine to both gilt and sow diets can reduce mortality to day 21 and increase gilt litter weight

Recommendations:

• Adding 75g of creatine to gilt diets each day for five days pre-farrowing can decrease pre-foster mortality in gilt litters
• Adding 3g of caffeine to sow and gilt diets each day for three days pre-farrowing can decrease mortality between birth and day 21, and increase gilt litter weight
• Combining both creatine and caffeine is NOT recommended
• There may be applications for creatine in low-confinement farrowing systems