Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2008
The effect of feeding system at weaning on performance, health and feeding behaviour of pigs of different sizes
Thomsson, A.; Rantzer, D.; Botermans, J.; Svendsen, J.Abstract
Pigs weaned at 31 to 34 days of age (n=280) were mixed into groups of 10 and fed from either feeders (2 feeding places per pen) or troughs (10 feeding places per pen). Analyses on performance, diarrhoea scores and feeding behaviour were made separately on small-, medium- and large-sized pigs, defined as their relative size in the group. During the second week after weaning, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower for pigs fed from feeders. Trough feeding resulted in lower total diarrhoea scores for small (p=0.002) and large (p=0.04), and higher scores for medium pigs (p=0.03). Small pigs had lower scores on individual days around the peak on day 6. All three size categories of pigs spent a numerically higher amount of time feeding when fed from a trough. Feeding bouts were longer in pigs fed from a trough (p=0.0002 - 0.05).Keywords
body weight gain; feed conversion ratio; feeder; feed intake pattern; mixing; post weaning diarrhoea; troughPublished in
Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science2008, volume: 58, number: 2, pages: 78-83
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS
Authors' information
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Rural Buildings and Animal Husbandry [LBT]
Rantzer, Dan
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Rural Buildings and Animal Husbandry [LBT]
Botermans, Jos
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Rural Buildings and Animal Husbandry [LBT]
Svendsen, Jörgen
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Rural Buildings and Animal Husbandry [LBT]
UKÄ Subject classification
Veterinary Science
Animal and Dairy Science
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064700802294792
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/19008