[Analysis of porcine feeding patterns from weaning to adulthood]

This study describes the instruments used in recording the feeding patterns of 21 pigs of three different breeds fed ad libitum from weaning to adulthood. The feeding behavior of the pigs was characterized by 1) the presence of well individualized meals, and 2) the circadian distribution of food intake: whatever the breed, the animals preferred to eat in the daytime. This diurnal character of food intake was accentuated gradually with age. The frequency of the daily food intake decreased progressively from a mean of 9.5 meals after weaning to usually 3 at adulthood when growth was finished (2 meals in the daytime and 1 at night).