Effects of feeder type, space allowance, and mixing on the growth performance and feed intake pattern of growing pigs

The effect of crowding and mixing on growth performance and feed intake pattern were investigated in growing pigs in a 4-wk study. Feeding pattern was monitored using automated feed intake recording equipment (F.I.R.E.). A total of 256 Yorkshire x Hampshire and purebred Duroc pigs (initial weight 35.8+/-.86 kg) were allocated to one of the eight treatment combinations in a 2x2x2 factorial arrangement (feeder type [conventional feeder vs F.I.R.E. feeder], space allowance [.56 vs .25 m2/pig], and mixing strategy [mixed vs unmixed; mixing at start of wk 1 and 3]). Pigs were housed in groups of eight, balanced for genotype and sex (barrows and gilts), and had free access to a corn-soybean meal diet (17% crude protein, 3,296 kcal ME/kg). There was no difference in growth performance between feeder types. Crowding and mixing had no effect on daily feed intake but they depressed growth rate by 15.7 and 7.1%, respectively, and the effects of the two stressors were additive. Gain:feed ratio was reduced by crowding (10.0%) but not by mixing. Crowded pigs made fewer (11.2 vs 15.7; SEM = .51), and longer (12.5 vs 8.9 min; SEM .41) feeder visits and had higher feed intake per visit (196.2 vs 145.5 g; SEM = 5.94) than uncrowded animals. Mixing produced changes in feeding pattern in the 1st wk after mixing but not over the 4-wk period. This study showed that crowding and mixing depressed growth rates in an additive manner and altered feeding behavior.