Electronic sow feeding : making sense of feeding data to support sow management

Abstract

This study aimed to address the knowledge gaps concerning how group-housed gestating sows interact with modern electronic sow feeding (ESF) stations and to explore the potential of data recorded by these systems to enhance farm management. ESF records of 276 sow-gestations, from a dynamic group of c. 120 individuals were investigated. Data was analysed to identify patterns in the use of feeding stations by animals, and associations between feeding patterns and reproductive performance. Throughout the approximate 15 weeks that each sow spent on the dry sow house during a gestation, the total number of visits to the feeding stations varied greatly among individuals (367.7 ± 282.8) most of which were non-feeding visits (60.01 ± 19.8%). Feeding activity was highly concentrated within the first 12 h of feeding cycles (23 h) and sows ate their daily rations predominantly on a single feeding station visit (98.3 ± 1.7%). A mixed effects model revealed a weak effect of time on the number of feeding station visits, and a negative relationship between parity and total number of visits (b = - 0.230, SE = 0.022, p < 0.001). Sows kept feeding order relatively stable across gestation, especially among those who fed first. Additionally, results suggested that with every additional parity, the odds of a sow being among the first 15% group members to feed increased by a factor of 2.16 [OR: 2.16, p<0.010]. Statistically significant associations were found between feeding patterns and pre weaning piglet mortality, but not with number of piglets born alive nor average birth weight. Median piglet mortality was lower for sows feeding last compared to those feeding first (4.5% vs 14.3%, p = 0.025) and with a middle position in the feeding order (4.5% vs 11.8%, p = 0.045). Individuals with a regular feeding time showed higher piglet mortality rates than those with moderately regular (14.3% vs 10.6%, p = 0.029) and irregular (14.3% vs 9.5%, p = 0.047) feeding times. Median piglet mortality was superior in fast feeding sows compared to those feeding slower (13.3% vs 9.1%, p = 0.053). This work enhances current understanding of how gestating sows interact with ESF stations and highlights the potential of ESF data to support sow management.

RESUMO - ALIMENTAÇÃO ELETRÓNICA DE PORCAS: UTILIZAÇÃO DOS SEUS REGISTOS COMO SUPORTE AO MANEIO DA PORCA REPRODUTORA - Em suinicultura, o sucesso dos sistemas produtivos é influenciado em larga escala pelo desempenho do efetivo reprodutor. O maneio alimentar assume, a esse respeito, um papel decisivo na performance reprodutiva a médio e longo prazos e deve ter presentes as diferentes necessidades de cada animal. A alimentação eletrónica permite que porcas gestantes sejam alimentadas de forma individual estando alojadas em grupos, conforme previsto na legislação europeia. Ao passo que a adoção deste sistema tem vindo a crescer ao longo dos anos, a valorização dos seus registos tem recebido pouca atenção. Não obstante, alguns estudos sugerem que a informação recolhida automaticamente pelas estações de alimentação eletrónica (EAE) pode constituir uma ferramenta de monitorização, capaz de fomentar o maneio individual da porca gestante. Este trabalho visa enriquecer a compreensão do modo como as porcas em gestação em grupo interagem com EAE e avaliar a utilidade dos registos gerados por este sistema para apoiar o maneio da porca reprodutora. Para o efeito, analisaram-se registos de 276 gestações pertencentes a um grupo dinâmico de cerca de 120 porcas com acesso a duas EAE. A análise focou-se na identificação de padrões de utilização das EAE e no estudo de relações entre padrões de alimentação e performance reprodutiva. ...