초록
An experiment was conducted to compare the traditional weigh-suckle-weigh method and the $D_2O$ dilution technique to estimate milk consumption of suckling piglets. Milk consumption of 50 individual piglets was estimated on four consecutive days by the $D_2O$ dilution method and for approximately 8 hours on both the second and fourth day by the traditional WSW method. The average milk intake of piglets estimated by the $D_2O$ dilution method was 45.0 g/hr and there were no significant differences between the four measurement period. The traditional weigh-suckle-weigh method provided a significantly lower estimate of milk consumption (36.8 g/hr). However correction for weight losses associated with milk suckling and weighing would increase the weigh-suckle-weigh estimate to a level similar to that determined by the $D_2O$ dilution method.