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A note on the behaviour and performance of growing pigs provided with straw in a novel housing system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

D. S. Arey  and
J. M. Bruce
D. S. Arey
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College—Aberdeen, Centre for Rural Building, Craibstone, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 1JF
J. M. Bruce
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College—Aberdeen, Centre for Rural Building, Craibstone, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 1JF
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Abstract

Straw-Flow is a novel housing system for growing pigs which simplifies the handling of bedding and manure by allowing pigs to take unchopped straw from dispensers. Three groups of 50, 50 and 60 Large-White × Landrace pigs were housed in Straw-Flow pens from 5 to 90 kg. They were supplied daily with 50 to 100 g unchopped straw per pig and given food ad libitum. From 30 to 90 kg, mean growth rate was 863 g/day and food conversion ratio was 2·56 kg food per kg growth. The pigs' behaviour was divided approximately into: 0·820 lying, 0·100 active, 0·075 feeding and 0·005 drinking (on a proportional basis). There were no differences (P > 0·05) between groups or different weights for any of the behaviour categories. The pigs were less active before noon than after noon (P < 0·05). The daily number of visits to the drinker between weights 5 and 25 kg fell from 23·7 to 11·0 (P < 0·05). A single drinker, of new design, appeared to be adequate for a group of 50 to 60 pigs.

Keywords

behaviourgrowthhousingpigsstraw
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 56 , Issue 2 , April 1993 , pp. 269 - 272
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1993

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