Newly weaned piglets show a strong preference towards centrally positioned circular feeder
At weaning, piglets undergo an immediate transition from mother’s milk to the feed mixture. Feed refusal and growth lag is, therefore, a frequent feeding disorder in newly weaned piglets. The present study aimed to determine whether newly weaned piglets adapt their feeding preferences towards feeder...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2021.1878945 |
| _version_ | 1818529901623377920 |
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| author | Nikolina Mesarec Janko Skok Dejan Škorjanc Maja Prevolnik Povše |
| author_facet | Nikolina Mesarec Janko Skok Dejan Škorjanc Maja Prevolnik Povše |
| author_sort | Nikolina Mesarec |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | At weaning, piglets undergo an immediate transition from mother’s milk to the feed mixture. Feed refusal and growth lag is, therefore, a frequent feeding disorder in newly weaned piglets. The present study aimed to determine whether newly weaned piglets adapt their feeding preferences towards feeders of different types/shapes and positions. A total of 120 piglets were included in the study. The analysis was carried out in low- and high-density groups, with 10 or 20 individuals per pen, respectively. Two different feeders were present in the weaning pen: a hopper (circular/central) and a trough (rectangular/sidewall). Piglet activity was video-recorded, and the number of piglets in each feeder was counted. The results showed nearly five times higher competition at the feeder in the high-density groups (p < .0001). In both high- and low-density groups, piglets showed a significant preference towards the hopper (4 and 24 times higher number of piglets at the hopper compared to the trough, respectively; p < .0001). The trough feeder was mainly chosen when the (preferred) hopper feeder was occupied by a higher number of piglets (p < .0001). There are several co-founding factors that explain the observed phenomenon: the distance from the resting area, the perception of the circular feeder as less competitive, and contra-freeloading. However, the results showed that the feeder type/position should be considered when planning the layout of a weaning pen.Highlights Weaners showed markedly higher competition at the feeder at high stocking density. Weaners preferred circular feeder (hopper) placed in the middle of a pen. Unlimited circular space, position (proximity to lying area), and contra-freeloading may explain hopper preference. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:12:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b9e241abdc144908afe335904d08a114 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1594-4077 1828-051X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:12:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-b9e241abdc144908afe335904d08a1142022-12-22T00:57:29ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2021-01-0120122623110.1080/1828051X.2021.18789451878945Newly weaned piglets show a strong preference towards centrally positioned circular feederNikolina Mesarec0Janko Skok1Dejan Škorjanc2Maja Prevolnik Povše3Katedra za živinorejo, Fakulteta za kmetijstvo in biosistemske vede, University of MariborKatedra za živinorejo, Fakulteta za kmetijstvo in biosistemske vede, University of MariborKatedra za živinorejo, Fakulteta za kmetijstvo in biosistemske vede, University of MariborKatedra za živinorejo, Fakulteta za kmetijstvo in biosistemske vede, University of MariborAt weaning, piglets undergo an immediate transition from mother’s milk to the feed mixture. Feed refusal and growth lag is, therefore, a frequent feeding disorder in newly weaned piglets. The present study aimed to determine whether newly weaned piglets adapt their feeding preferences towards feeders of different types/shapes and positions. A total of 120 piglets were included in the study. The analysis was carried out in low- and high-density groups, with 10 or 20 individuals per pen, respectively. Two different feeders were present in the weaning pen: a hopper (circular/central) and a trough (rectangular/sidewall). Piglet activity was video-recorded, and the number of piglets in each feeder was counted. The results showed nearly five times higher competition at the feeder in the high-density groups (p < .0001). In both high- and low-density groups, piglets showed a significant preference towards the hopper (4 and 24 times higher number of piglets at the hopper compared to the trough, respectively; p < .0001). The trough feeder was mainly chosen when the (preferred) hopper feeder was occupied by a higher number of piglets (p < .0001). There are several co-founding factors that explain the observed phenomenon: the distance from the resting area, the perception of the circular feeder as less competitive, and contra-freeloading. However, the results showed that the feeder type/position should be considered when planning the layout of a weaning pen.Highlights Weaners showed markedly higher competition at the feeder at high stocking density. Weaners preferred circular feeder (hopper) placed in the middle of a pen. Unlimited circular space, position (proximity to lying area), and contra-freeloading may explain hopper preference.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2021.1878945pigweaningfeeding behaviourfeeder typefeeder position |
| spellingShingle | Nikolina Mesarec Janko Skok Dejan Škorjanc Maja Prevolnik Povše Newly weaned piglets show a strong preference towards centrally positioned circular feeder Italian Journal of Animal Science pig weaning feeding behaviour feeder type feeder position |
| title | Newly weaned piglets show a strong preference towards centrally positioned circular feeder |
| title_full | Newly weaned piglets show a strong preference towards centrally positioned circular feeder |
| title_fullStr | Newly weaned piglets show a strong preference towards centrally positioned circular feeder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Newly weaned piglets show a strong preference towards centrally positioned circular feeder |
| title_short | Newly weaned piglets show a strong preference towards centrally positioned circular feeder |
| title_sort | newly weaned piglets show a strong preference towards centrally positioned circular feeder |
| topic | pig weaning feeding behaviour feeder type feeder position |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2021.1878945 |
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