Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 November 2017
Poor feed intake of conventional dry diets in the immediate post-weaning period can be a major factor limiting potential growth rate in the young pig. Feeding systems based on the automatic dispensing of liquid milk -substitute have been developed over the last 10-15 years but they have not achieved widespread usage within the U.K. industry for various reasons. Several studies have shown, however, the potential benefit of offering liquid or slurry diets over this critical period around weaning (eg. English, Maclean and MacPherson 1988; Anon 1991). Deprez et a] (1987) also demonstrated its beneficial effects on the morphology of the small intestine post-weaning. The present study examined the use of an experimental automated feeder (‘Autofeeder’, patent applied for) which could dispense a conventional pelleted starter diet plus water (1:1 ratio) 6, 8, 12 or 24 times throughout the day in varying quantities. It was compared against a conventional dry hopper (control) with ad libitum feeding.