FEEDING-BEHAVIOR OF GROUP-HOUSED LARGE WHITE AND LANDRACE PIGS IN FRENCH CENTRAL TEST STATIONS

The feeding behaviour of group housed growing pigs was studied using d ata recorded with electronic feed dispensers ''ACEMA 48''. Data were c ollected in 42 pens of 9 to 14 pigs, either boars or castrated males o f Large White and French Landrace breeds raised from 35 to 95 or 100 k g liveweight. All the visits performed by the pigs were recorded and t hen grouped into meals. Differences between breeds especially concerne d feeding pattern, Large White pigs performing twice as many visits pe r day as French Landrace pigs, but daily feed intake was the same in t he two breeds under both housing type conditions (single breed or mixe d breeds). In contrast, castrated males ate 17% more per day than boar s.Evolution of feeding behaviour throughout the growth period showed a continuous decrease of the number of meals per day (from 7.2 in week 2 to 5.3 in week 10) and an increase of rate of feed intake, independe nt of breed or sex. In addition, evolutions were parallel in the two b reeds, meaning that feeding behaviour for each breed was acquired earl y and did not evolve afterwards. Among all studied behavioural criteri a, only daily feed intake was noticeably correlated with growth perfor mance and ultrasonic backfat thickness.