HIGH-FIBER DIETS FOR SOWS - EFFECTS ON STEREOTYPIES AND ADJUNCTIVE DRINKING

The effects of feeding bulky high-fibre regimens to pregnant gilts and sows on persistent hunger and the development of abnormal behaviours were studied. Ninety-one gilts were mated at their second or third oes trus and were fed during two gestations a diet containing either a low level of fibre (corn and soybean meal (1)), a high level of fibre (wh eat bran and com cobs (2)), or a very high level of fibre (oat hulls a nd oat (3)). The total daily intake of major nutrients was calculated to be the same in the three regimens. Daily allowances in the first an d second parities were, respectively, 2.0 kg and 2.2 kg in Diet 1; 2.9 kg and 3.2 kg in Diet 2; 3.4 kg and 3.7 kg in Diet 3. The animals wer e video-recorded for 30 s every 10 min over a 24-h period at Weeks 5, 10 and 15 of gestation and during 1.5 h before and after mealtime at 1 08 days of gestation during the two parities. During both parities, bu lky regimens reduced stereotypies over 24 h (P < 0.0007), Regimen 2 be ing more effective than 3 in the first parity. Around mealtime, Regime ns 2 and 3 had no effect on the duration of stereotypies in Parity 1, whereas in Parity 2, both bulky diets reduced (P < 0.003) stereotyped behaviours before and after feed distribution. Sows fed Diet 3 had les s postural changes around mealtime than sows fed Diets 1 or 2. The num ber of high stereotyping sows increased with parity in Regimen 1 (P = 0.007), but not in 2 and 3. Bulky feed also reduced the time spent dri nking (P < 0.02) and water intake (P < 0.0004) over 24 h during both p arities. Finally, sows fed Diet 2 were resting, on average, for 76.4% of observation time, as compared with 69.7% for 3 and 66.5% for 1 (P < 0.0005). These results indicate that bulky feed may have beneficial e ffects on the welfare of sows.