The effect of providing additional feed in a highly accessible trough on feeding behaviour and growth performance of weaned pigs

Two trials were conducted to determine the effects of providing additional feed in a highly accessible trough on performance of weaned pigs. In Trial 1, 240 piglets were weaned into flat-deck kennels in groups of 15 and alloc ated to treatment, ensuring that groups were balanced for live weight, gend er and randomised over litters. The two treatments were 'control', consisti ng of two single space wet-dry (SSWD) feeders per pen, and 'trough', consis ting of two SSWD feeders per pen as in control with additional wet feed pro vided in a highly accessible trough. Feed was offered ad libitum via the SS WD feeders in both treatments. In the trough treatment, 150 g of feed was a dded to the trough in a 2:1 ratio with water, three times daily for 5 days post weaning. Feeding behaviour was also recorded for 5 days post weaning. Providing additional wet feed in a trough improved daily feed intake for 2 days post weaning and over the first 3 weeks post weaning (Stage I) but gro wth rate and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were not affected. The number of p igs feeding at the SSWD feeders was reduced (P < 0.05) by the provision of additional feed in a trough. In Trial 2, the treatments were additional wet feed in a trough (present, absent) and pig weight at weaning (heavy (10.1 kg), light (7.6 kg)) in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Providing additional wet feed in a trough improved feed intake for 2 days post weaning but did not a ffect intake, growth rate or FCR over the entire Stage I period. When pigle ts were grouped into heavy and light categories, heavy pigs had proportiona lly 0.10 higher feed intakes (P < 0.01) but similar growth rates and propor tionally 0.04 poorer FCR (P < 0.05) than light pigs. It is concluded that p roviding additional feed in a highly accessible trough offered no advantage s in terms of performance of weaned pigs but added labour cost and redirect ed feeding behaviour away from the SSWD feeders.