title: Effects of feeding schedule on body condition, aggressiveness, and reproductive failure in group-housed sows.
abstract: A total of 208 sows and 288 gilts (PIC line C29) were used to determine the influence of feeding frequency (2 vs. 6 times/d, floor fed) on performance and welfare measurements on a commercial sow farm. Treatments consisted of feeding similar amounts of feed to each sow (2.5 kg) or gilt (2.05 kg) over 2 (0700 and 1530) or 6 times daily (0700, 0730, 0800, 1530, 1600, and 1630). There were 8 sows or 12 gilts in each pen. Gilts and sows were moved to pens 1 to 4 d after breeding. In sows, there were no differences (P > 0.10) in ADG, backfat change, or variation in BW. There was a trend (P < 0.08) for sows fed twice daily to farrow more total pigs born, but number born alive or other reproductive performance traits were not different (P > 0.10) among treatments. Sows fed 6 times per day had increased vocalization during the morning (P < 0.07) and afternoon (P < 0.01) feeding periods compared with sows fed twice daily. Sows fed twice daily had more skin (P < 0.01) and vulva (P < 0.04) lesions as well as a small increase in feet and leg (P < 0.01) and hoof (P < 0.02) problems. In this commercial facility, the standard management protocol required moving gilts to a different gestation facility on d 42. On d 42, two pens of gilts with similar breeding dates and treatment were combined and moved to another facility with larger pens until farrowing. Gilts fed 6 times daily had a tendency for greater ADG (P < 0.07) from d 0 to 42 and a tendency for greater (P < 0.09) backfat on d 42. After movement to the larger groups from d 42 to farrowing, ADG was similar (P > 0.10) for gilts fed 2 or 6 times daily. Gilts fed twice daily had lower BW variation at d 42 (P < 0.04) and tended to at farrowing (P < 0.10). In gilts, there were no differences (P > 0.10) for reproductive performance, skin and vulva lesions, and feet and leg scores. In conclusion, there were few growth, farrowing, or aggression differences among gilts fed 2 or 6 times daily. This suggests that either feeding method is suitable for group-housed gilts. Among sows, feeding frequency resulted in few growth or farrowing performance differences. Feeding 6 times daily resulted in a small but significant reduction in skin and vulva lesions and structural problem scores while increasing vocalization. Increasing the feeding frequency from 2 to 6 times daily does not appear to have a negative or positive impact on performance or welfare of group-housed gilts and sows.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-0201, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Tokach
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Dritz
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Nelssen
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Derouchey
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Goodband
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D001824:Body Constitution; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008098:Litter Size; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014828:Vocalization, Animal; D015430:Weight Gain