Comparison of methods to measure hierarchies dm group-housed sows and the interaction with feeding regime

1993 ◽  
Vol 1993 ◽  
pp. 225-225
Author(s):  
F Brouns ◽  
S A Edwards ◽  
P R English
Keyword(s):  
Standard Diet ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Feeding Regime ◽  
A Value ◽  
Fibre Diet ◽  
High Fibre ◽  
Competition For Food ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Three Space ◽  
Effect Of Feeding

Dominance allows animals priority of access to resources when these are limited. It is common practice to feed dry sows once or twice daily a relatively small amount of food. This can lead to high competition for food, when there are no provisions for individual feeding of group housed sows. In contrast, competition for food should be low when offeredad libitum.This study was designed to investigate the effect of feeding regime on the measurement of hierarchies in group housed dry sows.Four groups of 12 multiparous sows were housed in deep straw pens (3.1 m2/sow). Two groups were offered a high fibre dietad libitumfrom a three-space hopper (LC) and two groups were floor-fed 3 kg/sow of a standard diet once daily (HC). The diet composition is given in Brouns et al (1992).Groups were allocated to treatment after service. After two months on treatment, the dominance of every sow in each pen was determined in a feed competition test between all possible dyads of sows. A more detailed description of this test is given in Brouns et al (1992). The results of this test indicated how many pen mates each sow dominated (DR). This was used to calculate an index of linearity for the hierarchy (Appleby, 1983) giving a value between 0 and 1, where 1 indicates a completely linear hierarchy.

The performance of group-housed sows offered a high fibre diet ad libitum

2000 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Whittaker ◽  
S. A. Edwards ◽  
H. A. M. Spoolder ◽  
S. Corning ◽  
A. B. Lawrence
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Beet ◽  
Sugar Beet Pulp ◽  
High Fibre Diet ◽  
Feeding Regime ◽  
Fibre Diet ◽  
High Fibre ◽  
Feeding Regimes ◽  
Unrestricted Access ◽  
Beet Pulp ◽  
Ad Libitum

AbstractAs a part of a study investigating the extent to which ad libitum feeding of a high fibre diet could mitigate behavioural problems associated with food restriction, the performance of sows given food at restricted or ad libitum levels was compared. Ten subgroups of five were allocated to each of the restricted (R) and ad libitum (A) feeding regimes. Five weeks after service, subgroups were introduced into one of two dynamic groups of sows housed in adjacent straw-bedded pens. R sows received a fixed daily ration (parity 1: 2·2 kg; parity 2: 2·4 kg) of a conventional pregnancy diet (13·1 MJ digestible energy per kg) from an electronic sow feeder. Sows on the A regime had unrestricted access to five single-space hoppers dispensing a high fibre diet (containing 600 g unmolassed sugar beet pulp per kg). Subgroups were maintained on these gestation feeding regimes for two consecutive parities. During both parities, A sows were heavier by day 50 of gestation (parity 1: P < 0·05; parity 2: P < 0·01) and at farrowing (parity 1: P < 0·001; parity 2: P < 0·001) than R sows. No difference was found between feeding regime in sow weight at weaning, due to a greater weight loss during lactation of A (parity 1: P < 0·001; parity 2: P < 0·001) than R sows. No difference was found between feeding regime in sow backfat thickness, sow reproductive performance or litter performance in either parity. This suggests that unmolassed sugar beet pulp diets may be used to feed sows on an ad libitum basis during gestation without compromising productivity. However, food intakes may be too high (estimated at 4·1 kg per sow per day) to make ad libitum feeding of pregnant sows an attractive option for producers.

Gaseous emissions from group-housed gestating sows kept on deep litter and offered an ad libitum high-fibre diet

2009 ◽  
Vol 132 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 66-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.X. Philippe ◽  
B. Canart ◽  
M. Laitat ◽  
J. Wavreille ◽  
M. Vandenheede ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gaseous Emissions ◽  
High Fibre Diet ◽  
Fibre Diet ◽  
High Fibre ◽  
Ad Libitum

A note on the effect of feeding regime on the performance of sows housed in a novel group-housing system

1989 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 523-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Carol Petherick ◽  
Judith K. Blackshaw
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Feeding Regime ◽  
Feeding Regimes ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Effect Of Feeding ◽  
Food Trough

The effects on sow reproductive performance of three feeding regimes (ration (R), ad libitum (A) and ration + straw (R + S)), in conjunction with partial barriers placed along the food trough, were investigated. Three groups of four sows were put on the regimes, in a group-housing system, over three consecutive gestations. Each trial lasted 13 days and took place during the first half of the gestation period. Sows on A ate about three times the amount of food that was allocated to them on R and R + S (2 kg per sow per day). Feeding regime did not affect any of the measures of reproductive performance (numbers of piglets liveborn, stillborn, weaned, birth and weaning weights). Sows of parity 7 and over had significantly fewer liveborn and more stillborn piglets compared with parities 2 to 6 (P < 0·05). It is probable that no adverse effects of the feeding regimes were found due to the short time that the sows were on them and because multiparous animals were used. It is suggested that the welfare of ration-fed sows, whose appetite is not satiated, is jeopardized and that this problem may be solved by the provision of fibrous foodstuffs.

The effect of ad libitum feeding of a high fibre diet on the reproductive performance of gilts

1996 ◽  
Vol 1996 ◽  
pp. 146-146
Author(s):  
X. Whittakera ◽  
H.A.M. Spoolder ◽  
S.A. Edwards ◽  
S. Corning ◽  
A.B. Lawrence
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Feeding Practice ◽  
High Fibre Diet ◽  
Commercial Diet ◽  
Welfare Benefits ◽  
Fibre Diet ◽  
High Fibre ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Ad Libitum Feeding

Ad libitum feeding of a high fibre diet may be instrumental in reducing the development of abnormal behaviours in group housed sows (Brouns et al.1994). However, although there may be welfare benefits associated with feeding sows in this way, such a feeding practice is unlikely to be adopted unless it is commercially viable. This study compared the reproductive performance of gilts fed a high fibre diet ad libitum throughout gestation, with gilts fed a commercial diet on a restricted level.

The effect of providing a high fibre diet on foraging behaviour of outdoor sows and consequent pasture damage

1995 ◽  
Vol 1995 ◽  
pp. 32-32
Author(s):  
J P Braund ◽  
S A Edwards ◽  
I Riddoch ◽  
L Buckner ◽  
J Roden
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Food Level ◽  
Short Term ◽  
The Past ◽  
Fibre Diet ◽  
High Fibre ◽  
Welfare Implications ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Fibrous Diet

Food restricted sows under extensive conditions forage for considerable periods of time and this can give rise to serious pasture damage. This pasture damage can be diminished by the reduction of rooting behaviours. In the past this has been achieved by nose ringing but, due to welfare implications, the emphasis has now been shifted onto alternative methods such as nutritional modification. This rooting behaviour is, in part, caused by hunger (feed motivation) and it has been demonstrated that this feed motivation can be manipulated by short-term changes in food level and type (Brouns et al 1994; Edwards et al, 1993; Ewbank, 1974).The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of feeding a fibrous diet (containing 600 g/kg unmolassed sugarbeet pulp) either at a restricted or ad libitum level, on foraging behaviour and the consequences of this for pasture damage.

Feeding motivation of sows fed a sugarbeet pulp diet

1992 ◽  
Vol 1992 ◽  
pp. 146-146
Author(s):  
F Brouns ◽  
S A Edwards ◽  
P R English
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Taste Aversion ◽  
Metabolic Effects ◽  
Standard Diet ◽  
Measured Rate ◽  
Feeding Motivation ◽  
High Fibre ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Voluntary Food Intake

Voluntary food intake of dry sows fed ad libitum diets containing high levels of unmolassed sugarbeet pulp (SBP) was low in comparison to those fed other high fibre diets (Brouns et al., 1991). It is not known whether this is caused by a taste aversion, or whether physical/metabolic effects during digestion restrict intake. In this experiment the feeding motivation of sows fed SBP diets was determined by measuring their rate of feeding.Twelve multiparous pregnant sows housed in straw bedded pens, but individually fed in feeding stalls, were used for this experiment. The sows were allocated between two treatments according to their measured rate of eating when given a standard diet on 2 pretrial days. Treatments were 2.3 kg of a diet containing 500g/kg SBP or 2.0 kg of a barley-based diet (C) (Table 1) providing the same total DE. Both diets were fed once a day in pelleted form. Any refusals were recorded to calculate intake.

The effect of feeding a high fibre diet from mid lactation until breeding on subsequent litter size of sows

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 175-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.M. Ferguson ◽  
C.J. Ashworth ◽  
M.G. Hunter ◽  
P. Penny ◽  
J. Slevin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Embryo Viability ◽  
Large White ◽  
High Fibre Diet ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Fibre Diet ◽  
High Fibre ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Effect Of Feeding

AbstractThe feeding of high fibre diets to sows prior to ovulation has been shown to have beneficial effects on embryo viability, leading to a possible increase in piglet litter size. This trial was conducted to look at the effect of feeding sows a high fibre diet from mid lactation until breeding on subsequent litter size on a commercially run farm. The sows used were either Large White or Large White x Landrace in genotype and ranged from parity 1 to 7. The sows were allocated to receive either a cereal-based control diet (C), or a high fibre diet (HF) of similar specification but containing unmolassed sugar beet pulp (USBP) at a 20% inclusion rate during lactation and 40% from weaning to oestrus. The diets were fed from day 11 of lactation until oestrus. The sows were inseminated at oestrus and then fed a standard gestation diet until farrowing. The trial was conducted over a 3-month period and in total 198 sows received the HF diet with the rest of the sows over the 3-month period acting as controls (496) on the cereal-based diet. The effect of the diet on total litter size and the number of piglets born alive per sow was analysed in a general linear model (Minitab release 12.1). The combined results for both breed types showed that sows fed the HF diet had a significantly higher number of piglets born (12.37 ± 0.27 versus 11.41 ± 0.26, P<0.01) and a higher number of piglets born alive (11.47 ± 0.26 versus 10.85± 0.26, P<0.01) compared to 130 control fed sows matched for farrowing week. The difference in piglet litter size was still apparent when all the control sows farrowing over the 3 month trial period were included in the statistical analysis, with values of 12.47 ± 0.27 versus 11.79 ± 0.15 (P<0.05) for total number of piglets born and 11.77 ± 0.26 versus 11.16 ± 0.14 (P<0.05) for the number of piglets born alive for the HF and control diet respectively. Based on the results from this trial and previous studies, feeding a diet with a high content of USBP during late lactation and prior to insemination can increase the total number of piglets in the litter and the number of piglets born alive. This effect is less marked in crossbred sows with high baseline performance.

Fibre in late gestation gilt diets, glucose tolerance, and feed intake and bodyweight loss during subsequent lactation

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Langendijk ◽  
T.-Y. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Tolerance ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Tolerance Test ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Standard Diet ◽  
Bodyweight Loss ◽  
High Fibre Diet ◽  
Fibre Diet ◽  
High Fibre ◽  
High Feed

Forty-nine crossbred gilts were fed one of three diets during the last month of their gestation: 2.5 kg of a standard diet (2.5C, n = 15), 3.5 kg of the same standard diet (3.5C, n = 17), or 3.5 kg of a high fibre diet, with 10.6% fibre compared with 4.4% fibre in the standard diet (3.5F, n = 17). The 3.5F and 3.5C gilts were fed at isocaloric and isonitrogenous levels. During the subsequent lactation, all gilts were fed the same lactation diet. Nineteen gilts (6 or 7 per treatment) were subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test around Day 110 of gestation. The high feed level (3.5C and 3.5F) resulted in a higher weight gain during gestation (P < 0.05). Gilts fed the high fibre diet tended to have (P < 0.10) piglets with a greater birthweight at farrowing (1535 g) than gilts fed the standard diet at 2.5 kg (1484 g). The 3.5C gilts (n.s.) and the 3.5F gilts (P < 0.05) had a lower feed intake and more bodyweight loss during lactation than gilts fed the 2.5-kg standard diet during gestation. Insulin profiles after the glucose tolerance test were higher for gilts fed the high fibre diet. Gilts fed the 2.5- or 3.5-kg standard diet had a similar insulin profile. Glucose profiles and insulin sensitivity were similar across treatments. Leptin around Day 110 was negatively correlated with feed intake during the third week of lactation (r = –0.28; P < 0.05). This study shows that a high feed level during late gestation reduces feed intake during lactation and that a high fibre diet during gestation does not negate this effect. The results suggest that feed level during gestation and the resulting body fat mass, rather than glucose tolerance, impacts on feed intake during lactation.

scholarly journals Effects of rearing feeding programme on the young rabbit females’ behaviour and welfare indicators

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 197 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Martínez-Paredes ◽  
L. Ródenas ◽  
J.J. Pascual ◽  
E. Blas ◽  
G. Brecchia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Young Rabbit ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
High Fibre Diet ◽  
Fibre Diet ◽  
High Fibre ◽  
Ad Libitum

<p>Restriction of young rabbit females during rearing is a widespread management technique that could have negative consequences on their welfare and behaviour. In the present work, a total of 24 young rabbit females aged 9 wk were used to evaluate 3 rearing feeding programmes until first parturition: CAL, fed ad libitum with a control diet [C: 11.0 MJ digestible energy (DE) and 114 g digestible protein (DP) per kg dry matter (DM)]; CR, receiving the C diet restricted (140 g/d) from 12 wk of age; and F, fed ad libitum with a low energy/high fibre diet [F: 8.7 MJ DE and 88 g DP per kg DM]. F females presented lower body weight than CAL and CR females at week 18 (–0.4 kg and –0.2 kg; P&lt;0.05), but differences in body weight disappeared at parturition. Feeding programme affected the daily feed intake of young females during rearing and gestation periods (on av. of 2 periods: 140, 127 and 179 g DM/d, for CAL, CR and F females, respectively; P&lt;0.001). Blood levels of glucose and insulin decreased with the age of rabbits (from 97 to 73 mg/dL for glucose and from 11 to 6 μUI/mL for insulin at 13 and 20 wk, respectively; P&lt;0.001). Concentration of non-esterified fatty acids was higher in the blood of CAL females (+0.13 mmol/L compared to F; P&lt;0.05), while corticosterone was higher in F females (+0.7 μg/dL compared to CAL; P&lt;0.05). The type of feeding schedule affected the lying still and eating behaviour (P&lt;0.01) of CR females, especially before and after feeding supply, as well as their behavioural stressed indicators (stereotypies; P&lt;0.01), which were more frequent in CR females before feeding supply at 20 weeks of age. Therefore, ad libitum use of a low energy/high fibre diet is an adequate feeding programme for young rabbit females, which does not alter their behavioural patterns.</p>

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