A novel feeding behavior index integrating several components of the feeding behavior of finishing pigs

Abstract Feeding behavior is an area of study that links the nutritional and behavioral sciences. However, describing the feeding behavior of pigs is difficult given the diversity of variables available and the large day-to-day intra-animal variation. The objectives of this study were to create an index integrating information from several components of feeding behavior that accounts for intra-animal variation, and to evaluate the capability of this index to study the impact of different feeding strategies in pigs’ feeding behavior. Feed intake information from 160 pigs during the last 28 days of the finishing phase from 3 datasets was used. For each pig, the sum of the absolute values of the deviation areas between the regression line of the relative cumulative feed intake and the observed cumulative feed intake was used to calculate the weekly index measuring the irregularity of feed intake (IIFI). Spearman’s correlations of IIFI with the number of daily meals (r = -0.42; P < 0.001), meal duration (r = 0.38; P < 0.01), and feed intake per meal (r = 0.41; P < 0.01) indicate that pigs with high IIFI have fewer meals of longer duration and higher feed intake compared to pigs with low IIFI. Analysis of variance in datasets 1 and 2 showed that moving from conventional to feeding precision systems does not interfere with the feeding behavior of finishing pigs (P > 0.05). In dataset 3, pig feeding behavior was more regular in control diets than for pigs fed fibrous diets (IIFI; 164 vs. 197, respectively; P < 0.05). Additionally, IIFI was smaller in pigs fed canola than in pigs fed wheat by-product diets. These results indicate that IIFI integrates information from several components of the feeding behavior of pigs and demonstrates its potential to evaluate the effect of feeding strategies on feeding behavior.

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Effects of Feeding Systems on Social and Feeding Behavior and Performance of Finishing Pigs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.2527/jas1987.652463x ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 65 (2) ◽

pp. 463-474 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

J. Vargas Vargas ◽

J. V. Craig ◽

R. H. Hines

Keyword(s):

Feeding Behavior ◽

Finishing Pigs ◽

And Performance ◽

Feeding Systems

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Analysis of feeding behavior of group housed growing–finishing pigs

Computers and Electronics in Agriculture ◽

10.1016/j.compag.2013.06.002 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 96 ◽

pp. 246-252 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

T.M. Brown-Brandl ◽

G.A. Rohrer ◽

R.A. Eigenberg

Keyword(s):

Feeding Behavior ◽

Finishing Pigs

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Feeding behavior of growing and finishing pigs fed different dietary threonine levels in a group-phase feeding and individual precision feeding system

Translational Animal Science ◽

10.1093/tas/txaa177 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Aline Remus ◽

Luciano Hauschild ◽

Marie-Pierre Létourneau-Montminy ◽

Ines Andretta ◽

Candido Pomar

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Feeding Behavior ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Exploratory Factor Analysis ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Graphical Analysis ◽

Linear Increase ◽

Finishing Pigs ◽

Feeding Programs ◽

Feeding Systems

Abstract Feeding behavior is an important aspect of pig husbandry as it can affect protein deposition (PD) in pigs. A decrease in plasma threonine (Thr) levels may influence feed intake (FI) due to amino acid imbalance. We set out to study whether different Thr inclusion rates of 70%, 85%, 100%, 115%, and 130% of the ideal Thr:lysine (Lys) ratio of 0.65 in two different feeding programs (individual precision feeding and group-phase feeding could affect pig feeding behavior and consequently PD. Two 21-d trials were performed in a 2 × 5 factorial setup (feeding systems × Thr levels) with 110 pigs in the growing phase [25.0 ± 0.8 kg of body weight (BW)] and 110 pigs in the finishing phase (110.0 ± 7.0 kg BW), which correspond to 11 pigs per treatment in each trial. Pigs were housed in the same room and fed using computerized feeding stations. The total lean content was estimated by dual x-ray absorptiometry at the beginning (day 1) and the end (day 21) of the trial. Multivariate exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify related variables. Confirmatory analysis was performed by orthogonal contrasts and Pearson correlation analysis. Graphical analysis showed no difference in feeding patterns between feeding systems during the growing or finishing phase. Pigs exhibited a predominant diurnal feeding, with most meals (73% on average) consumed between 0600 and 1800 h. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that feeding behavior was not related to growth performance or PD in growing or finishing pigs. Changes in feeding behavior were observed during the growing phase, where increasing dietary Thr resulted in a linear increase in the FI rate (P < 0.05). During the finishing phase, the duration of the meal and FI rate increased linearly as dietary Thr increased in the diet (P < 0.05). These changes in feeding behavior are, however, correlated to BW. In conclusion, the exploratory factor analysis indicated that feeding behavior had no correlation with growth performance or protein and lipid deposition in growing or finishing pigs. Dietary Thr levels and feeding systems had no direct effect on FI.

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Feeding behavior of growing–finishing pigs reared under precision feeding strategies1

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.2527/jas.2016-0392 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 94 (7) ◽

pp. 3042-3050 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

I. Andretta ◽

C. Pomar ◽

M. Kipper ◽

L. Hauschild ◽

J. Rivest

Keyword(s):

Feeding Behavior ◽

Finishing Pigs

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Elucidating the Impact of Feeding Behaviour on Body Composition in Finishing Pigs Fed Ad Libitum Using an Integrative Feeding Behaviour Index

10.21203/rs.3.rs-445190/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hector Hernando Salgado ◽

Steve Méthot ◽

Aline Remus ◽

Marie-Pierre Létourneau-Montminy ◽

Candido Pomar

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Feeding Behavior ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Energy Regulation ◽

Finishing Pigs ◽

Large Variability ◽

Ad Libitum ◽

And Performance ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: Large variability in body composition is observed in pigs fed and raised in similar conditions. Part of this variation might be explained by the feeding behavior of pigs, given its effect on metabolic hormones associated with energy regulation and protein metabolism. The objective of this study was to elucidate this relationship by examining body composition with a new index describing feeding behavior in finishing pigs. Feeding behavior and body composition information on 138 pigs during the last 28 d of the growing phase from three trials were used. For each pig, the sum of the areas between the observed relative cumulative feed intake and the regression line for the evolution of relative feed intake over time was used to calculate the new feeding behavior index. This index quantifies the irregularity of feed intake (IIFI) by integrating different components of feeding behavior into a single measurement. Body lipids and protein composition were estimated by dual X-ray densitometry at the beginning (day 1) and end of the finishing phase (day 28). Results: Weak to moderate correlations (r = ±0.31 to ±0.44; P < 0.05) of IIFI with body composition and performance variables were found only in datasets 1 and 2. However, in dataset 2, IIFI was also correlated with daily feed intake (r = - 0.54; P < 0.001). Irregular feeding behavior is associated to increased proportion of protein (PdDG) and decreased proportion of lipids (LdDG) in body gain. However, IIFI only accounted for 8% to 14% and 10% to 12% of the total variation of PdDG and LdDG in datasets 2 and 1, respectively. Additionally, factor analysis showed that the number of meals and IIFI had high loadings in a factor separate from factors associated with body composition or performance, suggesting that body composition and performance are independent of feeding behavior. Conclusion: Factors other than feeding behavior might be involved in modulating body composition of finishing pigs fed ad libitum.

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