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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

SLU Authors

  • Thomsson, Annica

    • Department of Rural Buildings and Animal Husbandry [LBT], Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

  • Rantzer, Dan

    • Department of Rural Buildings and Animal Husbandry [LBT], Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

  • Botermans, Jos

    • Department of Rural Buildings and Animal Husbandry [LBT], Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

  • Svendsen, Jörgen

    • Department of Rural Buildings and Animal Husbandry [LBT], Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

UKÄ Subject classification

Veterinary Science
Animal and Dairy Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064700802294792

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/19008