The flexibility of feeding patterns in individually housed pigs

2000 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. L. I. Bornett ◽  
C. A. Morgan ◽  
A. B. Lawrence ◽  
J. Mann
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Feeding Pattern ◽  
Time Budgets ◽  
Feeding Patterns ◽  
Large White ◽  
Period 2 ◽  
Access To Food ◽  
The Impact

AbstractGroup-housed pigs may be prevented from expressing their desired feeding pattern by more dominant individuals in the group. Indeed, when compared with individually housed pigs, group housed pigs eat less frequent, but larger meals. Therefore, it would be advantageous for pigs to have flexible feeding patterns in order to decrease the impact of group housing. The aim of this study was to assess the flexibility of feeding patterns by restricting the time of access to food of pigs previously given food ad libitum and then returning them to 24-h access. Thirty-two Large White x Landrace pigs were used in an experiment of two blocks (16 pigs per block) each comprising three, 2-week periods. In each block; during period 1, all pigs were allowed 24-h access to food after which, in period 2, eight of the pigs had access to the feeder restricted between 11:00 and 13:00 h of each day. The remaining eight pigs continued on 24-h access to food and acted as controls. In period 3, all pigs were again returned to 24-h access to food. Daily feeding pattern and food intake were recorded throughout. Behavioural observations in the form of scan samples were made and pigs were weighed twice a week. In period 2 the restricted pigs had fewer visits to the feeder per day, 34·0 v. 70·1 (P < 0·001); of a longer duration, 98·3 v. 64·5 s (P < 0·01); with a higher food intake per visit, 64·9 v. 33·3 g (P < 0·001) than the control pigs. Daily food intake and live-weight gain were lower (P < 0·001) for the restricted pigs in period 2 than for the control pigs. Restricted pigs spent more time rooting (P < 0·05), and less time sleeping (P < 0·05) than the control pigs in period 2. In addition, there was a trend for pigs to spend more time alert in the observation session prior to access to food in the second period when they were restricted and they made attempts to gain access to the feeders in this session. An indication of flexibility was gained by comparing feeding behaviour and time budgets between periods 1 and 3. The pigs that experienced a period of restricted feeding either resumed their previous behaviour or showed the same trend as the controls. In periods 1 and 3 daily feeder visits were 66·2 and 68·1 for control pigs, and 65·6 and 67·1 for restricted pigs. Mean durations of visits were 79·3 and 47·5 s, and 74·4 and 61·7 s respectively. It was concluded that feeding behaviour was flexible and time budgets were resilient across periods.

The response of growing pigs to amino acids as influenced by environmental temperature. 2. Lysine

2000 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.S. Ferguson ◽  
G.A. Arnold ◽  
G. Lavers ◽  
R.M. Gous
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Environmental Temperature ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dietary Treatment ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Large White ◽  
Total Heat Loss ◽  
Body Protein ◽  
Access To Food ◽  
Rates Of Growth

AbstractTwo experiments were conducted to measure the effects of a range of dietary lysine concentrations and environmental temperatures on the performance of pigs grown from 13 to 25 kg live weight. In both experiments 48 Large White x Landrace entire male pigs were assigned at 13 kg to one of six dietary lysine treatments (13·8 (L1), 11·8 (L2), 9·6 (L3), 7·6 (L4), 5·6 (L5) g/kg and L5 + supplemented lysine (L6)) and one of four temperature treatments (18, 22, 26 and 30°C). Animals were given ad libitum access to food until 25 kg live weight. There were significant differences in the rates of growth between dietary and temperature treatments with the highest gains on L2 (0·597 (s.e. 0·020) kg/day) and at 18°C (0·549 (s.e. 0·018) kg/day). Food intake (FI) increased significantly (P < 0·001) with decreasing lysine content, reached a maximum (L4) and then declined (L5). An increase in the supply of lysine in the diet resulted in significant increases (P < 0·001) in the gain per unit of food (FCE). There was an indication (P < 0·10) that the response in FCE to dietary lysine was dependent on the temperature, with maximum FCE being obtained at 22°C on LI (647 (s.e. 18·5) g gain per kg food). Dietary treatment had a significant effect (P < 0·001) on both the rate of protein (PR) and lipid deposition (LR) irrespective of the temperature. There was a 0·60 reduction in PR and a 1·36 increase in LR in pigs given L5 compared with those given L1. Similar trends occurred in the empty body protein and lipid contents at 25 kg live weight. Both temperature and dietary lysine levels had a significant (P < 0·05) effect on total heat loss (THL). The response in THL was similar to that observed in FI. The efficiency of lysine utilization at 22°C was significantly (P < 0·05) higher than at the remaining temperatures. The mean efficiency for pigs between 13 kg and 25 kg live weight was 0·64 (s.e. 0·05). In general, growth and food intake responses to dietary lysine level were independent of environmental temperature.

Effect of season and dietary fibre on feeding behaviour of lactating sows in a tropical climate

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Renaudeau ◽  
J.-L. Weisbecker ◽  
J. Noblet
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Dietary Fibre ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Tropical Climate ◽  
Large White ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Lactating Sows ◽  
Hot Season

AbstractTwenty-seven multiparous Large White sows were used to determine the effect of season in a tropical climate and dietary fibre on their feeding behaviour during lactation. The experiment was conducted in Guadeloupe (French West Indies, latitude 16°N, longitude 61°W) between October 1999 and January 2001; climatic conditions in the farrowing room were equivalent to outdoor conditions. Two seasons were determined a posteriori from climatic criteria recorded continuously in the farrowing room. During the warm season, ambient temperature and relative humidity averaged 25°C and 0·868, respectively. The corresponding values for the hot season were 27·5°C and 0·835. Experimental diets offered during lactation were a control diet (C; 140 g neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) per kg) and a high fibre diet (HF; 200 g NDF per kg). Sows were offered food ad libitum between the 6th and the 27th day of lactation. Daily food intake between day 6 and day 27 decreased during the hot season (P < 0·001; 3226 v. 5571 g/d during the warm season). This was achieved by a reduction of both meal size (P < 0·05; 460 v. 718 g per meal) and ingestion and consumption time (P < 0·01; -11·1 and -15·3 min/day, respectively) whereas the number of meals remained constant (8·4 meals per day on average). During warm season, hourly food intake peaked twice daily near sunrise and sunset. During the hot season, peaks were attenuated and food intake was reduced during the hotter periods of the day and increased during the fresher period of the day, especially in early morning. As a result the diurnal partition of food intake was significantly affected by season; proportionately 0·62 and 0·47 of total food intake occurred during the day in warm and in hot seasons, respectively. Standing duration averaged 138 min/ day with no significant difference between seasons. Feeding behaviour criteria were not influenced by diet composition. In conclusion, the season in a humid tropical climate significantly affects the feeding behaviour of lactating sows.

Genetic components of growth and ultrasonic fat depth traits in Meishan and Large White pigs and their reciprocal crosses

1992 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. Haley ◽  
E. d'Agaro ◽  
M. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Additive Effect ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Large White ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
The Impact

AbstractGenes from the Chinese Meishan pig have the potential to enhance reproductive performance of European pigs. In order to allow prediction of the impact of Meishan genes in a range of alternative improvement programmes all traits of economic importance must be evaluated and genetic crossbreeding effects estimated. Entire male and female pigs of four genotypes, purebred Meishan (MS) and Large White (LW) pigs and both reciprocal Fl crossbred genotypes (MS ♂ × LW ♀ and LW ♂ × MS ♀), were farrowed in Edinburgh and subsequently performance tested at either Edinburgh or Newcastle. In Edinburgh, animals were penned in groups of four and fed ad libitum between pen mean weights of approximately 30 and 80 kg. At the end of test fat depths at the shoulder, last rib and loin were measured ultrasonically. In Newcastle, animals were penned in groups of six and fed ad libitum between pen mean weights of approximately 30 and 70 kg. Genotypic means and genetic crossbreeding effects (additive and heterosis direct effects and additive maternal effects) were estimated using restricted maximum likelihood.When compared with the LW, the direct additive effect of genes from the MS produced increased growth rate up to the time of weaning, no change in growth rate between weaning and start of test and greatly reduced growth rate during the performance test. The maternal additive effect of genes from the MS was to reduce growth rate up to the time of weaning, with little effect thereafter. There was substantial direct heterosis for growth rate in all periods measured, but heterosis was less in males than in females during the performance test. The combined effect was such that, within sex, the LW and the two crossbred genotypes were of similar ages when they reached 70 and 80 kg, but MS pigs were 38 to 60 days older. The direct additive effect of MS genes was to increase subcutaneous fat levels and there was little evidence for the effects of maternal genes or direct heterosis on these traits. There was a direct additive effect of MS genes reducing food intake and increasing food conversion ratio and there was direct heterosis for increased food intake. There were significant interactions between genotype and sex. Male and female LW pigs had a similar performance but male MS pigs had slower growth rates on the performance test with lower food intakes, food conversion ratios and subcutaneous fat levels than the females.

Effect of diurnally fluctuating high ambient temperatures on performance and feeding behaviour of multiparous lactating sows

2000 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 571-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Quiniou ◽  
D. Renaudeau ◽  
S. Dubois ◽  
J. Noblet
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Lactation Performance ◽  
Large White ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Total Food Intake ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Ad Libitum

AbstractForty-two multiparous Large White sows were used to investigate the effect of diurnally fluctuating temperature (T) on lactation performance and feeding behaviour. The animals were allocated to one of the four thermic treatments: constant T at 25°C (25C) and 29°C (29C) or equal-mean diurnal cyclic T varying from 21 to 29°C (25V) and from 25 to 33°C (29V). Photoperiod was fixed to 14 h of light. The sows were given food ad libitum between the 7th and the 19th day post partům. Lactation performance was measured for all sows whereas the feeding behaviour was recorded only on 28 sows. The ad libitum food intake was comparable at 25C and 25V (6•31 kg/day) as were milk production and body reserves mobilization. In contrast, food intake at 29V was higher than at 29C (4•53 v. 3•48 kg/day) with no difference in milk production between the two treatments. The increased daily food intake at 29V resulted from higher intakes over the coolest periods of the day and especially during the dark period. Neither meal size nor daily number of meals were significantly affected by T. Feeding behaviour was mainly diurnal but with differences between treatments: 0•90 of total food intake at 29C v. 0•78 at the other three T It appears that the effects of diurnally fluctuating T on lactation performance of sows depend on the mean level of T

Amino acid and energy interactions in growing pigs 1. Effects of food intake, sex and live weight on the responses of growing pigs to lysine concentration

1985 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Batterham ◽  
L. R. Giles ◽  
E. Belinda Dettmann
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Analysis Of Variance ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Response Surfaces ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Large White ◽  
Lysine Concentration ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Daily Gain

ABSTRACTThe responses of growing pigs to dietary lysine concentration, as influenced by food intake, sex (intact males and females) and live weight were investigated in a 4 x 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment involving 128 Large White pigs. Lysine concentrations were 7, 8, 9 and 10 g/kg air-dry food. The basal wheat-soya bean meal diet (14·0 MJ digestible energy per kg) was offered either ad libitum or on a restricted feeding scale to pigs from 20 to 85 kg live weight. During the 50 to 85 kg growth phase, the effects of proportionately reducing the lysine concentrations by 0·2 were investigated. Performance response was assessed in two ways; by analysis of variance for the 20 to 50, 50 to 85 and 20 to 85 kg phases, and by response surface analyses of data from successive 10-kg weight intervals.An initial analysis of variance indicated that food intake (of pigs fed ad libitum), daily gain and food conversion ratio varied with lysine concentration, but that the responses differed with food intake, sex and phase of growth.Analysis of the response surfaces delineated by lysine level and phase of growth indicated that for males and females with restricted food and males fed ad libitum, maximum daily gain was produced by feeding at least 10 g lysine per kg, declining to about 8 g/kg at 80 kg. With females fed ad libitum, maximum daily gain was obtained by feeding 9·9 g lysine per kg at 20 kg, declining to less than 5·6 g/kg at 75 kg.Carcass characteristics were largely unaffected by lysine concentration.

The influence of food intake and allyl trenbolone administration during lactation on plasma steroid concentrations and the reproductive performance of multiparous sows

1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Costa ◽  
M. A. Varley
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Food Level ◽  
Large White ◽  
Influence Of Food ◽  
High Level

AbstractAn experiment was made to examine the effects of food intake and an orally active progestagen on plasma steroid concentrations and subsequent reproductive performance of multiparous sows. Thirty-five multiparous Landrace × Large White sows were assigned to one of four treatments immediately after parturition. Treatment H-AT sows were offered a high level of food intake throughout lactation: 3·5 kg of a diet containing 160 g/kg dry matter (DM) of crude protein and 13 MJ digestible energy per kg DM given twice daily. Treatment H+AT sows were offered the same food intake as H-AT sows and in addition they were given 20 mglday of allyl trenbolone (AT) mixed with the morning feed. Treatment L-AT sows were given 1·5 kg of the same diet offered twice daily during lactation and treatment L+AT sows were also offered this lower level of food intake and given AT. The respective levels of food intake were offered to sows from the 1st day of lactation onwards until weaning at 21 days post partum. Litter weights at weaning were influenced significantly by feeding level (P < 0·001) and also by AT administration (P <0·05). Sows on the high level of feeding had the heaviest litters and food-restricted sows had the lightest litters. AT treatment depressed litter weight at weaning. There was no effect of food level or AT on the plasma concentrations of progesterone or oestrogens during lactation. There was a highly significant (P <0·001) difference in mean plasma oestrogen concentration between high (H-AT and H+AT) and low (L-AT and L+AT) fed groups during early pregnancy in the subsequent cycle. Sows given a combination of high energy in lactation and AT (H+AT) exhibited shorter intervals from weaning to oestrus than both groups of food-restricted (L-AT and L+AT) sows fP <0·01) but treatment had no significant effect on either the farrowing rate or on the subsequent litter size. It is concluded that despite significant changes in the live weight and condition of sows and changes in steroid hormone concentrations due to food intake and the administration of allyl trenbolone, there were no significant effects on reproductive performance.

Dietary fat and climate alter food intake, performance of lactating sows and their litters and fatty acid composition of milk

1999 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Christon ◽  
G. Saminadin ◽  
H. Lionet ◽  
B. Racon
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid Composition ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Acid Composition ◽  
Dietary Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
Large White ◽  
Fat Level ◽  
Ad Libitum

AbstractTwo experiments were carried out simultaneously in a temperate environment (T), at Sourches (west France), with 24 Landrace X Large White sows and in a tropical environment (TRO), in Guadeloupe, France (16° latitude N, 61° longitude W), with 18 Large White sows, to study the effect of incorporating fat into the lactation diet on sow and litter performance. In each environment, multiparous sows were divided into three groups and given either a control diet (C) containing 20 g fat per kg, or the same diet enriched with a 50 : 50 peanut-rapeseed oil mixture, so as to obtain a fat content of 80 g/kg (medium fat, MF) or 140 g/kg (high fat, HF). A restricted experimental diet was supplied to the sows from day 105 of gestation until farrowing and then ad libitum throughout the 28-day lactation period. The piglets all had ad libitum access to solid food from day 21 to day 70. Milk samples were collected 24 h post partum (colostrum) and at day 21 of lactation. Chemical composition of milk was determined and fatty acid composition was assessed by capillary gas chromatography. Compared with T, the TRO sows showed an increase (P < 0⋅001) in rectal temperature and respiration rate but a decrease in food intake (P < 0·01), milk yield (P < 0⋅001) and litter weight gain from birth to weaning (P < 0⋅05) as well as from weaning to day 70, reaching 25 to 30 kg live weight (P < 0⋅05). However, as dietary fat level increased, the T sows showed a linear decrease (P < 0⋅01) in food intake and no significant change in metabolizable energy (ME) intake during the lactation period. In TRO, the MF diet led to a 0⋅22 proportional increase (P < 0⋅01) in ME intake through a change in nycthemeral feeding behaviour. Both environment and increased dietary fat level significantly affected the fat level and fatty acid composition of colostrum as well as mature milk, particularly n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration in milk. In conclusion, the addition of fat to the lactating sow diet may be more beneficial under high ambient temperatures than in thermoneutral conditions.

Retention of energy and nitrogen by young sheep on different feeding patterns

1972 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Freer ◽  
D. B. Jones ◽  
K. R. Christian
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
The Other ◽  
Feeding Pattern ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Feeding Patterns ◽  
Cyclic Feeding

SUMMARYIn each of two experiments the comparative slaughter technique was used to compare the retention of energy by young Border Leicester × Merino wethers when the same total amount of food was offered according to two different feeding regimens. These were designed to simulate, in pens with a diet of pelleted lucerne, feeding patterns typical of continuous and intensive rotational grazing.In the first experiment ten 9-month-old sheep that were offered the same amount of food daily (mean intake 367 g digestible organic matter) during each of 14 weeks made mean daily gains of 39 g live weight, 6·3 g body fat and 0·59 MJ (140 kcal) energy compared with a gain of 30 g live weight, a loss of 1·4 g body fat and a gain of 0·28 MJ (67 kcal) energy by a similar group that ate the same total quantity of food but in amounts that ranged, during each week, from 1·8 to 0·1 times the daily intake of the other group. This cyclic feeding pattern caused a small decrease in the digestibility of dietary organic matter.In the second experiment two similar feeding patterns were compared with ten pairs of 3-month-old sheep eating twice as much food each week as in the first experiment. One member of each pair was, in each of 13 weeks, offered food ad lib. for 3 days and then amounts falling to 20% of voluntary intake on the seventh day; the other one ate the same amount of food each week but in seven almost equal feeds. The latter sheep gained, on average, 132 g live weight daily and retained 58 g body fat and 2·96 MJ (707 kcal) energy compared with 124 g live weight, 49 g body fat and 2·61 MJ (624 kcal) energy by the sheep on the cyclic feeding pattern. In neither experiment was wool growth affected by feeding pattern.The greater effect of the cyclic feeding pattern in reducing the efficiency of energy retention in the first experiment is attributed to the higher number of days each week during which these animals were estimated to be in negative energy balance. These results suggest that adverse nutritional effects of a fluctuating feeding pattern in rotational grazing are likely to be most important where sheep are being rationed near their maintenance level and only small where food is ample.

scholarly journals Analysis of Productive Qualities of Pigs When Including DKB Feed Supplement in the Diet

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Chernyshkov ◽  
Inna Zasemchuk ◽  
Sergey Semenchenko
Keyword(s):  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Growth Dynamics ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Large White ◽  
Energy Supplement ◽  
Young Pigs ◽  
Feed Costs ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

Improving the efficiency of pig farming requires biologically complete feeding in accordance with the age, physiological and sexual characteristics of animals based on the knowledge of composition and nutritional value. The health and productivity of animals depends on the use of protein, fat, carbohydrates and minerals, and high-quality vitamins. Traditional feed does not provide animals with a sufficient and optimal ratio of minerals and vitamins. One of the factors providing young pigs with these nutrients may be the inclusion of the DKB vitamin-mineral energy supplement in the diet. The article analyzes the influence of DKB on the productivity of young pigs. The aim of the study was to justify an increase in productivity indicators of large white pigs feeding with DKB. In order to trace the impact of DKB on the productivity of pigs, we took into account the change in their live weight. During the experiment (60 days), 54 kg of the vitamin-mineral complex worth 3300 rubles was spent on the 20 piglets of the experimental group. This entailed an increase in the total costs. The results of the study indicate a positive effect of the additive on the dynamics and growth rate of the piglets of the experimental group and on the cost of feed and nutrients, which favorably affects the profitability and economic efficiency of pork production. Keywords: DKB vitamin-mineral energy supplement, piglets, live weight, growth dynamics, average daily gain, feed costs, profitability, economic efficiency

Genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates for feeding pattern and performance test traits in pigs

1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Hall ◽  
W. G. Hill ◽  
P. R. Bampton ◽  
A. J. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Test Period ◽  
Feeding Pattern ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Recording Equipment ◽  
Feeding Patterns

AbstractThe data used in these analyses were compiled from individual feeding records of 1832 pigs from 70 sire families using FIRE (food intake recording equipment) system from Hunday Electronics Ltd at the Cotswold Pig Development Company. Pigs were on test between 45 (s.d. 2·76) kg and 95 (s.d. 6·78) kg. Daily food intake (DFI kg), food intake per visit (FlV kg), number of visits per day (NV), duration of each visit (TV min), time in the feeder per day (TD min), feeding rate (FR kg/min) and number of non-feeding visits per day (NFV), were measured as means of test and DFI was also recorded as means of bi-weekly periods of test. Performance test traits ofbackfat depth off test (BF mm), food conversion ratio (ECR kg/kg) and average daily gain (ADG kg), over the test period, were also measured.Parameters were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood with a multivariate individual animal model. DFI had a heritability of 0·21 ranging from 0·18 to 0·26 over the four test periods. Correlations between DFI in each test period were high (rg = 0·75 to 0·99). DFI was highly correlated with performance test traits (0·61 to 0·78) but had low correlations with feeding pattern traits (0·0 to 0·24). The heritabilities of feeding pattern traits were low (0·06 to 0·11) with the exception of FIV (0·27) and NV (0·34) but correlations between feeding pattern traits were high. FIV, NV and TV were moderately correlated with ADG (rg = 0·49, -0·29, 0·33 respectively), BF (rg = 0·35, -0·15, 0·17 respectively) and ECR (rg = -0·12, 0·31, -0·27 respectively). Feeding patterns may be changed substantially by selection and the genetic correlations with performance test traits indicate that feeding patterns traits can be usefully incorporated in selection criteria to improve somewhat the accuracy of selection.

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