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The influence of feeder type and the method of group allocation at weaning on voluntary food intake and growth in piglets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. R. Pluske  and
I. H. Williams
J. R. Pluske
Affiliation:
Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6907, Australia
I. H. Williams
Affiliation:
Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6907, Australia
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Extract

Two hundred and ten piglets weaned at 30 days of age and weighing 9 kg were allocated to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to examine the influence of feeder type ('wet and dry' single-space feeder (SSF), 'dry' SSF, or multi-space feeder) and method of group allocation (piglets from different litters were mixed together, or piglets were weaned with their littermates) on performance after weaning. The use of a 'wet and dry' SSF did not enhance growth rate or voluntary food intake (P > 0-05) in the 28 days after weaning. Piglets feeding from 'wet and dry' SSF grew proportionately 0-06 slower in the 28 days following weaning as a result of a 0-45 proportional decrease (P = 0.013) in growth in the 1st week. Piglets mixed together from different litters at weaning grew proportionately 0.34 faster (P = 0.010) in the first 14 days after weaning than piglets weaned as littermates. This initial difference resulted in a 0-14 proportional increase in growth rate from day 1 to 28 (385 v. 339 glday, P < 0.001). Piglets from different litters mixed at weaning consumed proportionately from 0.06 to 0.16 more food (P = 0.096) than piglets weaned as entire litters. No interactions between feeder design and the method of group allocation at weaning occurred for any of the production parameters measured. Single-space feeders failed to increase the production of weaner piglets, whilst mixing non-littermate piglets into a new social group seemingly enhanced performance from weaning to 56 days of age.

Keywords

feed dispensersfood intakegroup housingpigletsweaning
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 62 , Issue 1 , February 1996 , pp. 115 - 120
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1996

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