Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T04:34:27.181Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Meta-analysis on the effects of the physical environment, animal traits, feeder and feed characteristics on the feeding behaviour and performance of growing-finishing pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

X. Averós ,
L. Brossard ,
J. Y. Dourmad ,
K. H. de Greef ,
S. A. Edwards  and
M. C. Meunier-Salaün
X. Averós
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1079 Systèmes d'Elevage Nutrition Animale et Humaine, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1079 Systèmes d'Elevage Nutrition Animale et Humaine, F-35000 Rennes, France
L. Brossard*
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1079 Systèmes d'Elevage Nutrition Animale et Humaine, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1079 Systèmes d'Elevage Nutrition Animale et Humaine, F-35000 Rennes, France
J. Y. Dourmad
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1079 Systèmes d'Elevage Nutrition Animale et Humaine, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1079 Systèmes d'Elevage Nutrition Animale et Humaine, F-35000 Rennes, France
K. H. de Greef
Affiliation:
Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen UR, PO Box 65, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands
S. A. Edwards
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Agriculture Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
M. C. Meunier-Salaün
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1079 Systèmes d'Elevage Nutrition Animale et Humaine, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1079 Systèmes d'Elevage Nutrition Animale et Humaine, F-35000 Rennes, France
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

A meta-analysis, using information from 45 experiments on growing-finishing pigs published in 39 manuscripts, was carried out to determine the simultaneous effects of the physical environment (space allowance, group size, flooring conditions, temperature, presence of enrichment), pig traits (initial body weight (BW) for each studied time interval, sex, genetics), feeder characteristics (water provision within the feeder, feeder design (individual/collective), feeder places/pig, presence of feeder protection) and feed characteristics (feed allowance (ad libitum/restricted), net energy content, crude protein (CP) content), as well as their potential interactions, on the feeding behaviour and performance of growing-finishing pigs. The detrimental effect of low temperature on performance was particularly evident for restricted-fed pigs (P < 0.05). At reduced feeder space allowance, a reduction in the percentage of time spent eating was predicted when increasing initial BW, whereas the opposite was predicted for larger feeder space allowances (P < 0.001). The reduction in visit duration to the feeder in higher BW groups became gradually more important with increasing feeder space allowance (P < 0.01), whereas the increase in the ingestion rate and average daily feed intake (ADFI) with increasing initial BW became smaller with increasing feeder space (P < 0.05). The model predicted a reduction in feed conversion ratio (FCR) with increasing group size (P < 0.05) and floor space allowance (P < 0.01) and on solid floors with or without bedding (P < 0.05). In comparison with other feeders, wet/dry feeders were associated with more frequent but shorter feeder visits (P < 0.05), higher ingestion rates (P < 0.001) and higher ADFI (P < 0.10). The use of protection within individual feeders increased the time spent feeding (P < 0.001), reduced the number of visits per day (P < 0.01), the ingestion rate (P < 0.001) and FCR (P < 0.01) in comparison with other feeder types. Sex modulated the effect of the number of feeder places/pig on FCR (P < 0.05), with a gradual reduction of FCR in entire males and females when increasing feeder space allowance. Genetics tended to modulate the effect of diets’ CP content on FCR (P < 0.10). Overall, these results may contribute to the improvement of the welfare and performance of growing-finishing pigs by a better knowledge of the influence of the rearing environment and may help optimize the feeding strategies in current production systems.

Keywords

feeding behaviourgrowing-finishing pigmeta-analysisperformance
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 6 , Issue 8 , August 2012 , pp. 1275 - 1289
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aarnink, AJA, Schrama, JW, Heetkamp, MJW, Stefanowska, J, Huynh, TTT 2006. Temperature and body weight affect fouling of pig pens. Journal of Animal Science 84, 2224–2231.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Affentranger, P, Gerwig, C, Seewer, GJF, Schwörer, D, Künzi, N 1996. Growth and carcass characteristics as well as meat and fat quality of three types of pigs under different feeding regimens. Livestock Production Science 45, 187–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Augspurger, NR, Ellis, M, Hamilton, DN, Wolter, BF, Beverly, JL, Wilson, ER 2002. The effect of sire line on the feeding patterns of grow–finish pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 75, 103–114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Averós, X, Brossard, L, Dourmad, JY, de Greef, K, Edge, HL, Edwards, SA, Meunier-Salaün, MC 2010a. Quantitative assessment of the effects of space allowance, group size and floor characteristics on the lying behaviour of growing-finishing pigs. Animal 4, 777–783.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Averós, X, Brossard, L, Dourmad, JY, de Greef, K, Edge, HL, Edwards, SA, Meunier-Salaün, MC 2010b. A meta-analysis of the combined effect of housing and environmental enrichment characteristics on the behaviour and performance of pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 127, 73–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baxter, MR 1989. Design of a new feeder for pigs. Farm Building Progress 96, 19–22.Google Scholar
Botermans, JAM, Svendsen, J 2000. Effect of feeding environment on performance, injuries and behaviour in growing-finishing pigs: group-based studies.. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A – Animal Science 50, 237–249.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bruininx, EM, van der Peet-Schwering, CM, Schrama, JW, Vereijken, PF, Vesseur, PC, Everts, H, den Hartog, LA, Beynen, AC 2001. Individually measured feed intake characteristics and growth performance of group-housed weanling pigs: effects of sex, initial body weight, and body weight distribution within groups. Journal of Animal Science 79, 301–308.Google Scholar
Brumm, MC, Gonyou, HW 2001. Effects of facility design on behaviour and feed and water intake. In Swine nutrition, 2nd edition (ed. AJ Lewis and LL Southern), pp. 499–518. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL, USA.Google Scholar
Chadd, SA, Cole, DJA, Walters, JR 1993. The food intake, performance and carcass characteristics of two pig genotypes grown to 120 kg live weight. Animal Production 57, 473–481.Google Scholar
Christon, R 1988. The effect of tropical ambient temperature on growth and metabolism in pigs. Journal of Animal Science 66, 3112–3123.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Collin, A, van Milgen, J, Dubois, S, Noblet, J 2001. Effect of high temperature on feeding behaviour and heat production in group-housed young pigs. British Journal of Nutrition 86, 63–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
de Haer, LCM, de Vries, AG 1993a. Feed intake patterns of and feed digestibility in growing pigs housed individually or in groups. Livestock Production Science 33, 277–292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
de Haer, LCM, de Vries, AG 1993b. Effects of genotype and sex on the feed intake pattern of group housed growing pigs. Livestock Production Science 36, 223–232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
de Haer, LCM, Merks, JWM 1992. Patterns of daily food intake in growing pigs. Animal Production 54, 95–104.Google Scholar
de Haer, LCM, Luiting, P, Aarts, HLM 1993. Relations among individual (residual) feed intake, growth performance and feed intake pattern of growing pigs in group housing. Livestock Production Science 36, 233–253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, SA, Armsby, AW, Spechter, HH 1988. Effects of floor area allowance on performance of growing pigs kept under fully slatted floors. Animal Production 46, 453–459.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, DB, Tempelman, RJ, Bates, RO 2006. Evaluation of Duroc- vs. Pietrain-sired pigs for growth and composition. Journal of Animal Science 84, 266–275.Google Scholar
Edwards, SA, Wood, JD, Moncrieff, CB, Porter, SJ 1992. Comparison of the Duroc and Large White as terminal sire breeds and their effect on pigmeat quality. Animal Production 54, 289–297.Google Scholar
Ellis, M, Augspurger, N 2001. Feed intake in growing-finishing pigs. In Swine nutrition, 2nd edition (ed. AJ Lewis and LL Southern), pp. 447–467. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL, USA.Google Scholar
Ewan, RC 1989. Predicting the energy utilization of diets and feed ingredients by pigs. In Energy metabolism, European Association of Animal Production Bulletin no. 43 (ed. Y van der Honing and WH Close), pp. 271–274. Pudoc, Wageningen, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Fàbrega, E, Tibau, J, Soler, J, Fernández, J, Font, J, Carrión, D, Diestre, A, Manteca, X 2003. Feeding patterns, growth performance and carcass traits in group-housed growing-finishing pigs: the effect of terminal sire line, halothane genotype and age. Animal Science 77, 11–21.Google Scholar
Georgsson, L, Svendsen, J 2001. One or two feeders for groups of 16 growing-finishing pigs: effects on health and production. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A – Animal Science 51, 257–264.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Giles, LR, Dettmann, EB, Lowe, RF 1988. Influence of diurnally fluctuating high temperature on growth and energy retention of growing pigs. Animal Production 47, 467–474.Google Scholar
Gonyou, HW, Lou, Z 2000. Effects of eating space and availability of water in feeders on productivity and eating behaviour of grower/finisher pigs. Journal of Animal Science 78, 865–870.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gonyou, HW, Brumm, MC, Bush, E, Deen, J, Edwards, SA, Fangman, T, McGlone, JJ, Meunier-Salaün, MC, Morrison, RB, Spoolder, H, Sundberg, PL, Johnson, AK 2006. Application of broken-line analysis to assess floor space requirements of nursery and grower–finisher pigs expressed on an allometric basis. Journal of Animal Science 84, 229–235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halter, HM, Wenk, C, Schurch, A 1980. Effect of feeding level and feed composition on energy utilization, physical activity and growth. In Proceedings of the 8th Symposium on energy metabolism of farm animals (ed. LE Mount), pp. 395–398. Butterworths, London, UK.Google Scholar
JrHeitman, H, Hahn, R, Kelly, CF, Bond, TE 1961. Space allotment and performance of growing-finishing swine raised in confinement. Journal of Animal Science 20, 543–546.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmes, CW, Close, WH 1977. The influence of climatic variables on energy metabolism and associated aspects of productivity in the pig. In Nutrition and the climatic environment (ed. W Haresign, H Swan and D Lewis), pp. 51–73. Butterworths, London, UK.Google Scholar
Hsia, LC, Wood-Gush, DGM 1984. The temporal patterns of food intake and allelomimetic feeding by pigs of different ages. Applied Animal Ethology 11, 271–282.Google Scholar
Hyun, Y, Ellis, M 2001. Effect of group size and feeder type on growth performance and feeding patterns in growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 79, 803–810.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hyun, Y, Ellis, M 2002. Effect of group size and feeder type on growth performance and feeding patterns in finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 80, 568–574.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hyun, Y, Ellis, M, Johnson, RW 1998. Effects of feeder type, space allowance, and mixing on the growth performance and feed intake pattern of growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 76, 2771–2778.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hyun, Y, Wolter, BF, Ellis, M 2001. Feed intake patterns and growth performance of purebred and crossbred Meishan and Yorkshire pigs. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Science 14, 837–843.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hyun, Y, Ellis, M, McKeith, FK, Wilson, ER 1997. Feed intake pattern of group-housed growing-finishing pigs monitored using a computerized feed intake recording system. Journal of Animal Science 75, 1443–1451.Google Scholar
Jones, GF 1998. Genetic aspects of domestication, common breeds and their origin. In The genetics of the pig (ed. MF Rothschild and A Ruvinsky), pp. 17–50. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK.Google Scholar
Kempster, AJ, Lowe, DB 1993. Meat production with entire males. Growth performance and carcass characteristics as influenced by genotype and environment. Proceedings of the 44th Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production, vol. II, 16–19 August, Aarhus, Denmark, 323pp.Google Scholar
Le Dividich, J, Desmoulin, B, Dourmad, J-Y 1985. Influence de la temperature ambiante sur les performances du porc en croissance-finition en relation avec le niveau alimentaire. Journées de la Recherche Porcine 17, 275–282.Google Scholar
Le Dividich, J, Noblet, J, Bikawa, T 1987. Effect of environmental temperature and dietary energy concentration in the performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs fed to equal rate of gain. Livestock Production Science 17, 235–246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leymaster, KA, Mersmann, HJ 1991. Effects of limited feed intake on growth of subcutaneous adipose tissue layers and on carcass composition in swine. Journal of Animal Science 69, 2837–2843.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lopez, J, Jesse, GW, Becker, BA, Ellersieck, MR 1991a. Effects of temperature on the performance of finishing swine: I. Effects of a hot, diurnal temperature on average daily gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency. Journal of Animal Science 69, 1843–1849.Google Scholar
Lopez, J, Jesse, GW, Becker, BA, Ellersieck, MR 1991b. Effects of temperature on the performance of finishing swine: II. Effects of a cold, diurnal temperature on average daily gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency. Journal of Animal Science 69, 1850–1855.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Manteca, X, Edwards, S 2009. Feeding behaviour and social influences on feed intake. In Voluntary feed intake in pigs (ed. D Torrallardona and E Roura), pp. 293–306. Wageningen Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, J, Buysse, F 1960. La capacité d'ingestion et l'influence du niveau protidique sur la croissance, la consummation et les qualités viande du porc de Piétrain. In Colloque sur la race porcine belge Piétrain (Fédération Européenne de Zootechnie, Ministère Belge de l'Agriculture), Brussels, 21–22 March, pp. 129–136. Service des informations agricoles, Brussels, Belgium.Google Scholar
May, RW, Bell, JM 1971. Digestible and metabolizable energy values of some feeds for the growing pig. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 51, 271–278.Google Scholar
McGloughlin, P, Allen, P, Tarrant, PV, Joseph, RL, Lynch, PB, Hanrahan, TJ 1988. Growth and carcass quality of crossbred pigs sired by Duroc, Landrace and Large White boars. Livestock Production Science 18, 275–288.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mercat, MJ, Mormède, P 2002. Influences génétiques sur les processus d'adaptation et le comportement alimentaire chez le porc. INRA Productions Animales 15, 349–356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morrison, RS, Hemsworth, PH, Cronin, GM, Campbell, RG 2003a. The effect of restricting pen space and feeder availability on the behaviour and growth performance of entire male growing pigs in a deep-litter, large group housing system. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 83, 163–176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morrison, RS, Hemsworth, PH, Cronin, GM, Campbell, RG 2003b. The social and feeding behaviour of growing pigs in deep-litter, large group housing systems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 82, 173–188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morrow, ATS, Walker, N 1994. Effects of number and siting of single-space feeders on performance and feeding behaviour of growing pigs. Journal of Agricultural Science 122, 465–470.Google Scholar
Nielsen, BL, Lawrence, AB, Whittemore, CT 1995a. Effects of single-space feeder design behaviour and performance of growing pigs. Animal Science 61, 575–579.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nielsen, BL, Lawrence, AB, Whittemore, CT 1995b. Effect of group size on feeding behaviour, social behaviour, and performance of growing pigs using single-space feeders. Livestock Production Science 44, 73–85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nielsen, BL, Lawrence, AB, Whittemore, CT 1996. Feeding behaviour of growing pigs using single or multi-space feeders. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 47, 235–246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Noblet, J, van Milgen, J 2004. Energy value of pig feeds: effect of pig body weight and energy evaluation system. Journal of Animal Science 82 (E. suppl.), E229–E238.Google ScholarPubMed
Petherick, JC 1983. A biological basis for the design of space in livestock housing. In Farm animal housing and welfare (ed. SH Baxter, MR Baxter and JAC MacCormack), pp 103–120. Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Petherick, JC, Phillips, CJC 2009. Space allowances for confined livestock and their determination from allometric principles. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 117, 1–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quiniou, N, Dubois, S, Noblet, J 2000. Voluntary feed intake and feeding behaviour of group-housed growing pigs are affected by ambient temperature and body weight. Livestock Production Science 63, 245–253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ramaekers, PJL, Swinkels, JWGM, Huiskes, JH, Verstegen, MWA 1999. Eating traits in relation to performance and carcass traits of restrictedly fed group-housed finishing pigs. Animal Science 68, 399–405.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Renaudeau, D 2009. Effect of housing conditions (clean vs. dirty) on growth performance and feeding behaviour in growing pigs in a tropical climate. Tropical Animal Health and Production 41, 559–563.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rinaldo, D, Le Dividich, J 1991. Assessment of optimal temperature for performance and chemicals body composition of growing pigs. Livestock Science 29, 61–75.Google Scholar
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute (SAS) 2000. SAS/STAT users guide, version 8.01. SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA.Google Scholar
Sauvant, D, Perez, JM, Tran, G 2002. Tables de composition et de valeur nutritive des matières premières destinées aux animaux d’élevage: porcs, volailles, bovines, ovins, caprins, lapins, chevaux, poisons. INRA Editions, Versailles.Google Scholar
Sauvant, D, Schmidely, P, Daudin, JJ, St-Pierre, NR 2008. Meta-analyses of experimental data in animal nutrition. Animal 2, 1203–1214.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schmidely, P, Glasser, F, Doreau, M, Sauvant, D 2008. Digestion of fatty acids in ruminants: a meta-analysis of flows and variation factors. 1. Total fatty acids. Animal 2, 677–690.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spoolder, HAM, Edwards, SA, Corning, S 1999. Effects of group size and feeder space allowance on welfare of finishing pigs. Animal Science 69, 481–489.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
St-Pierre, NR 2001. Integrating quantitative findings from multiple studies using mixed model methodology. Journal of Dairy Science 84, 741–755.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stahly, TS, Cromwell, GL 1979. Effect of environmental temperature and dietary fat supplementation on the performance and carcass characteristics of growing and finishing swine. Journal of Animal Science 49, 1478–1488.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stahly, TS, Cromwell, GL, Aviotti, MP 1979. The effect of environmental temperature and dietary lysine source and level on the performance and carcass characteristics of growing swine. Journal of Animal Science 49, 1242–1251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Street, BR, Gonyou, HW 2008. Effects of housing finishing pigs in two group sizes and at two floor space allocations on production, health, behaviour, and physiological variables. Journal of Animal Science 86, 982–991.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Turner, SP, Edwards, SA, Bland, VC 1999. The influence of drinker allocation and group size on the drinking behaviour, welfare and production of growing pigs. Animal Science 68, 617–624.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turner, SP, Sinclair, AG, Edwards, SA 2000. The interaction of liveweight and the degree of competition on drinking behaviour in growing pigs at different group sizes. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 67, 321–334.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Turner, SP, Allcroft, DJ, Edwards, SA 2003. Housing pigs in large social groups: a review of implications for performance and other economic traits. Livestock Production Science 82, 39–51.Google Scholar
Turner, SP, Dahlgren, M, Arey, DS, Edwards, SA 2002. Effect of social group size and initial live weight on feeder space requirement of growing pigs given food ad libitum. Animal Science 75, 75–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van de Weerd, HA, Day, JEL 2009. A review of environmental enrichment for pigs housed in intensive housing systems. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 116, 1–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, N 1991. The effects on performance and behaviour of number of growing pigs per mono-place feeder. Animal Feed Science and Technology 35, 3–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wellock, IJ, Emmans, GC, Kyriazakis, I 2003. Predicting the consequences of social stressors on pig food intake and performance. Journal of Animal Science 81, 2995–3007.Google Scholar
Wolter, BF, Ellis, M, Curtis, SE, Augspurger, NR, Hamilton, DN, Parr, EN, Webel, DM 2001. Effect of group size on pig performance in a wean-to-finish production system. Journal of Animal Science 79, 1067–1073.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Young, RJ, Lawrence, AB 1994. Feeding behaviour of pigs in groups monitored by a computerized feeding system. Animal Production 58, 145–152.Google Scholar