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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; trough

Published in

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science
2008, 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