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Ad libitum feeding of finishing pigs using single-space or multi-space feeders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

R.M. Kay ,
A.W. Armsby  and
A.L. Lightfoot
R.M. Kay
Affiliation:
MAFF/ADAS, Terrington E.H.F., Terrington St. Clement, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE34 4PW
A.W. Armsby
Affiliation:
MAFF/ADAS, Terrington E.H.F., Terrington St. Clement, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE34 4PW
A.L. Lightfoot
Affiliation:
126 Wootton Road, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4BT
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Extract

Good husbandry practices for ad libitum feeding of finishing pigs have traditionally provided between 50-75 mm trough space per pig. However, following the success of commercial pig producers in Denmark and The Netherlands in using single-space feeders, these feeders are becoming increasingly popular in the UK. If pig performance is unimpaired, the saving in floor area required for feeders may provide an opportunity to increase stocking rate per pen.

Two hundred and sixteen entire male and female pigs of about 30 kg liveweight at 12 weeks of age were blocked by sex and weight to groups of 12 and allocated at random to one of 3 treatments:

1. Ad libitum feeding with one single-space feeder (occupying 0.326 m2 floor area).

2. Ad libitum feeding with 2 single-space feeders (occupying 0.652 m2 floor area).

3. Ad libitum feeding with one multi-space feeder (occupying 0.439 m2 floor area).

Pigs were housed in an environment controlled house managed on a fully-slatted slurry system with no bedding used. The single-space feeders (QE Fivestar c) incorporate a 5 starred wheel which pigs operate with their snouts to drive an auger which dispenses a metered amount of feed from a bulk hopper.

Type
Pig and Poultry Production
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1989 , March 1989 , pp. 82
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Production 1989

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References

Edwards, S.A., Armsby, A.W. and Spechter, H.H. (1987). Space allowances for growing pigs on fully slatted floors. Anim. Prod. 44: (3) 490 (Abstr.).Google Scholar