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

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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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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093 Influence of ethanol co-products and barley on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs in liquid or dry feeding systems

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.2527/asasmw.2017.093 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 95 (suppl_2) ◽

pp. 43-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

B. Tostenson ◽

A. Tekeste ◽

D. Pangeni ◽

H. Manu ◽

P. Ren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Carcass Characteristics ◽

Finishing Pigs ◽

Feeding Systems

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Effect of sequential porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and swine influenza on the growth and performance of finishing pigs

Veterinary Record ◽

10.1136/vr.135.9.199 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 135 (9) ◽

pp. 199-204 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

R. Kay ◽

S. Done ◽

D. Paton

Keyword(s):

Swine Influenza ◽

Finishing Pigs ◽

And Performance

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The effects of liquid feed on the small intestine mucosa and performance of finishing pigs at different water to feed ratios

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200005433 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 2001 ◽

pp. 161-161 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

D. Hurst ◽

I.J. Lean ◽

A.D. Hall

Keyword(s):

Small Intestine ◽

Growing Pigs ◽

Finishing Pigs ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Liquid Form ◽

Physiological Basis ◽

Liquid Feeding ◽

Intestine Mucosa ◽

And Performance ◽

Dry Diet

Liquid feeding of growing pigs is believed to increase feed intake and growth performance compared to a dry diet. There is little information on the comparative feed conversion efficiency of pigs on the two forms of diet or the underlying physiological basis for the differences and how liquid diets affect the absorptive mucosa of the small intestine. This study was designed to investigate differences in feed utilisation and mucosal structure in modern genotype pigs offered equal amounts of feed in dry and liquid form. Additionally, the effect of reducing the pH of the liquid diet was considered.

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The effect of using fibrous feeds as nutrient diluents on the carcass quality and performance of finishing pigs fed ad libitum

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) ◽

10.1017/s0308229600021358 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 1992 ◽

pp. 10-10

Author(s):

B P Gill ◽

A G Taylor ◽

B Hardy ◽

J G Perrott

Keyword(s):

Sugar Beet ◽

Growing Pigs ◽

Sugar Beet Pulp ◽

Eating Quality ◽

Carcass Quality ◽

Finishing Pigs ◽

Meat Eating ◽

Beet Pulp ◽

Ad Libitum ◽

And Performance

Satisfactory levels of performance and improved carcass and meat eating quality in growing pigs fed high levels of sugar beet pulp (SBP) have been recently demonstrated by Kay et al. (1990) and Longland et al. (1991). One of the main advantages from feeding SBP was a reduction in carcass fatness and increased returns from improved grading. The objective of this work was to determine whether these benefits could be sustained to heavier finishing weights and to compare differences in the response to SBP as a source of readily fermentable non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and to oat feed (OF), a cereal by-product high in insoluble NSP, which is less easily degraded.

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