The Feeding Behaviour Habits of Growing-Finishing Pigs and Its Effects on Growth Performance and Carcass Quality: A Review

Abstract

Based on the available data of feeding behaviour habits (FBHs), this work aimed to discuss which type of pig, according to its FBHs, performs better and is more efficient. As pigs grow, average daily feed intake, meal size, and feeding rate increase, whereas small variations or even decreases in time spent eating and daily feeder visits have been reported. Moreover, the sex, breed, space allowance, feeder design, feed form, diet composition, and environmental conditions modify FBHs. On the other hand, the literature indicates the existence of four types of pigs: pigs that eat their daily feed intake in many short meals (nibblers) or in few large meals (meal eaters) combined with eating fast (faster eaters) or slow (slow eaters). The available scientific literature about ad libitum fed pigs suggests that pigs eating faster with bigger meals eat more, gain more weight, and are fatter than pigs eating less, slower, and with smaller meals. However, the feeding rate and the meal size do not influence feed efficiency. In conclusion, studies comparing growing-finishing pigs with similar feed intake, but different feeding rate and meal size are needed to better understand the influence of FBHs on feed efficiency.

Keywords: carcass; feeding behaviour; growing-finishing pig; growth performance.

Figure 2

IVOG—A station for individual feed intake recording in group housing (Instentec B.V., Marknesse, the Netherlands) used in the studies of De Haer and Merks, [12], De Haer et al. [10], De Haer and de Vries, [8], Georgsson and Svendsen, [47,48], Rauw et al. [4], and Fernández et al. [26] (Source: [www.insentec.eu], accessed on 5 April 2022).

Figure 3

Compident MLP (Schauer Agrotonic GmbH, Austria) used in the study of Garrido-Izard et al. [49]. (a) Weighing scale. (b) Feeding station used during the experiment (Source: [49]).

Figure 4

Electronic feeding station referred to as ACEMA “48” used in the study of Labroue et al. [11]. (1) Access door to the feeder. (2) Access corridor to the trough. (3) Adjustable side. (4) Trough door. (5) Feed hopper. (6) Mechanism to fill up the trough (Source: [11]).

Figure 5

Schema of the panel and a photo of the panel after installation (Source: [25]).

Figure 1

Interrelations of the feeding behaviour habits (FBHs). Average daily feed intake (ADFI), number of feeder visits per pig and day (TV), number of meals per pig and day (TM), total minutes spent eating per pig and day (TD), feed consumed per feeder visit (VS), feed consumed per meal (MS), and feed intake per minute spent eating (FR).

Figure 6

The effects of ambient temperature and pig BW on (a) ADFI and (b) ADG (Renaudeau et al. [63]).