Electronic Sow Feeder: A Preliminary Report
Housing of gestating sows is one of the more controversial aspects of pig production as they are one of the most restrictive practices in livestock production. Group housing systems may solve this problem for gestating sows with the electronic sow feeder system being investigated. From...
Effect of Social Group Size on Aggressive Behaviour of Grower-Finisher Pigs in Fully-Slatted Floor Rearing System
Previous research mainly focuses on small group sizes but commercially larger sizes are becoming more common. Social behaviour in larger groups of pigs is not well understood, though they are likely to have different social strategies. These behaviours should be monitored in order to ensure...
Growth Rate and Age at First Estrus: Impact on Managing the Gilt Pool
An effective gilt management system involves identifying select gilts below market weight and having appropriate weights at first breeding. An important tool to achieve these is to induce first estrus with early stimulation from boars. Producers often delay inducing the first estrus until 180 to 240...
Effects of Large Group Size on Productivity of Grower-Finisher Pigs
Large groups of pigs have become more popular as they improve space use and profitability while reducing housing costs. Concern of large groups having social instability which could result in higher mortality and morbidity, poor growth and higher variation in body weights are present. Production...
Effect of Gender and Crowding on Variation in Days to Market
Variation in the production chain has a large economic impact. Variation of growth due to gender and crowding during the grower-finisher phase were examined. Less crowding reduced days until market by four days. Holding gilts longer than barrows may be beneficial as barrows reached market...
Thermoregulation of the Nursery by Early Weaned Piglets Through Operant Conditioning
Growing swine health and productivity is affected by thermal environment, especially in newly weaned piglets as they require warmer temperatures. Pigs were taught how to respond to heat rewards through operant conditioning and control their thermal environment so they can select the optimal temperature. As...
Behavioural Diversity in Groups of Juvenile Pigs
Individual differences in pig behaviour may be strategies of coping with a challenging environment. Pig performance varies and this may be related to individual behavioural characteristics. Three main factors were identified regarding personality. These included responses to social displacement activities, response to humans and moving...
Sequential Analysis of Belly Nosing of Early Weaned Pigs
Belly nosing has increased since implementing segregated early weaning in order to improve disease control and performance. To investigate how to decrease this behaviour, motivation behind belly nosing was monitored on pigs 7 days after weaning. Pigs who spend more time lying and eating participated...
Effect of Feed Presentation on the Feeding Behaviour of Grower-Finisher Pigs
The eating speed of pigs should be correlated with the maximum number of pigs to be fed from a single feeder. Competition, feed type, pig size and presentation of feed all influence feeding behaviour of pigs. Dry mash diets prolong feeding times, though this can...
Incidence of Belly Nosing in Segregated Early Weaning Pigs
Segregated early weaning was implemented to decrease disease in swine operations. This led to a higher incidence of belly nosing and sucking in early weaned pigs as these behaviours increase as age decreases. Management factors such as line differences, pen enrichment and diet form were...