EVALUATION OF SELF-FEEDERS FOR BACONERS F ROM THE VIEW POINT OF ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND ANIMAL PROTECTION

Comparing behavioural investigations on feed intake of baconers fed ra tioned or ad lib from troughs (group size 5 pigs; pig-feeding stall-ra tion PFR 1:1) and by different types of self-feeders (group size 19 up to 88 pigs/group; PFR 5.5 to 10:1; single or duo-self-feeders) have b een done over 24 hours by the help of infrared-videotechnique. Pigs wi th rationed feeding (twice a day) showed a clear biphasic rhythm in fe ed intake behaviour, slept nearly the whole night and stood up only fo r short moments (less than 5 percent stay at trough). The mean percent age of stay at self-feeders in two stables ranged from 35.9 percent to 64.8 percent of total time with a biphasic daily rhythm. The highest percentage of using self-feeders was 84 percent on average of 24 hours (92.3 percent during day; 74.9 percent during night). The mean durati on of stay at self-feeders was in both stables nearly the same: 81.2 s ec reps. 80.9 sec. The investigations lead to the conclusions that the feed intake behaviour of fattening pigs at self-feeders is not in agr ee with the typical species-specific behaviour and that it is necessar y to optimize the pig-feeding stall-ratio in dependence on group size and other factors.