Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to determine the validity of the deuterium oxide ($D_2O$) dilution method to estimate milk intake by pigs. A total of 39 piglets weaned from their dams 24 - 36 hours after birth and trained to drink from artificial nipples, were used for two experiments. Estimates of milk replacer consumption of individual piglets over 1, 3, 5 and 7 days were made by the $D_2O$ dilution method and by dissappearance. Milk intakes estimated by this $D_2O$ dilution method were significantly correlated ($R^2$ = 0.98-0.99) with milk intake measured by disappearance. The average difference between estimates by disappearance and estimates by the $D_2O$ dilution method were -1%, +0.5%, +0.5% and -2.1% for measurement period of 1, 3, 5 and 7 days respectively.