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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #162147

Title: TRICKLE VERSUS DROP FEEDING FOR GILTS AND SOWS IN GESTATION CRATES OR PENS: REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND RATES OF INJURY.

Author
item MCGLONE, JOHN - TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
item HULBERT, LINDSEY - TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
item Dailey, Jeffery
item MCPHERSON, REBECCA - TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
item Morrow, Julie

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/12/2004
Publication Date: 1/1/2004
Citation: Mcglone, J.J., Hulbert, L., Dailey, J.W., Mcpherson, R., Morrow, J.L. 2004. Trickle Versus Drop Feeding For Gilts And Sows In Gestation Crates Or Pens: Reproductive Performance And Rates Of Injury. Journal Of Animal Science. 82:supplement 1, P. 362.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sow housing systems and their effects on sow welfare are important to pork producers and consumers. Specifically, we sought to evaluate the effects of trickle feeding (feed delivered over 30 min) vs. drop feeding (feed delivered in a single moment) for PIC-USA Camborough-22 gilts/sows housed in gestation pens (groups of 5) or individual crates. Gilts were randomly assigned to one of the four factorially-arranged treatments. A total of 8 blocks were established. Pregnant gilts all farrowed in standard farrowing crates and then they returned to their same environment for a second complete parity. A total of 188 litters were farrowed from parity 1 and 2 females. Measures included backfat thickness, farrowing rates, numbers of pigs born alive, weaned, stillborn and piglet birth and weaning weights. Sow weights were collected at farrowing and weaning. Sow injuries, wounds and scratches were quantified. No interactions between parity, housing systems or feeding systems were observed. The interaction between housing and feeding systems was significant (P = 0.01) for only sow farrowing weights; drop-fed, penned sows were heavier than drop-fed, crated sows while trickle-fed, penned sows were lighter than trickle-fed, crated sows. Penned sows had more (P < 0.05) backfat thickness than crated sows. Drop-fed sows weaned pigs were heavier (P < 0.05) than trickle-fed sows. All other measures of productivity were not different among treatments. Injuries, wounds and scratches were statistically similar for sows in each treatment group. Drop-fed, penned sows increased backfat thickness compared with crated sows (perhaps being able to huddle, penned sows required less feed), but this effect was eliminated when penned sows were trickle-fed (and energy expenditure may be increased). Farrowing rates were 10% lower among penned than crated sows. We conclude that overall gilt and sow productivity and injury rates were similar for sows in crates and pens, with the exception that farrowing rates may be reduced among sows housed in social groups during gestation.