In the Family feeding system, the sow box has been widened, allowing the sow to have more space at the front.
more during lactation and had a higher weaning weight as a result; • Piglets in the Family feeding system had fewer aggression- related skin lesions, tail lesions or ear lesions than piglets from the control feeding system; • The sows’ relative freedom of movement allowed sow-to- sow and sow-to-piglet contact, as well as a better way for her to keep an eye on the piglets; For the phase after weaning, the most important conclusions with regard to the feeding system were: • The Family feeding system did not impact growth or feed in- take throughout the weaning phase, and did not impact final body weight. Feed conversion was higher in comparison to the control feeding system. That was mainly due to the first nine days post-weaning, when the piglets from the Family feeding system put on less weight and used more feed. The percentage of piglets having diarrhoea during the first week post-weaning was higher in the Family feeding system. The piglets, however, were showing less ear and tail biting than piglets from the control feeding system.
The Family feed approach The Family feed’s ingredient profile and physical composition included nutrients tailored to support piglets’ digestive and oral motoric capacity and sows’ optimal nutrition. In addition, the texture, pellet size and aroma of the feed were optimised to stimulate feeding behaviour. The inclusion of recognisable flavours into the feed profile from the gestating to the lactat- ing phase and through to the nursery reinforced the sensory cues that piglets received from the sow even before farrow- ing. That flavour component imprints the feed with “mother
In the Family feeding system, piglets and sows can interact during feeding.
scent” and helped piglets recognise it as safe to eat. Sows were supplied with Family sow feed, and the piglets re- ceived Family piglet feed. In the first nine days after weaning, the piglets were supplied with Family piglet feed, after which they were given conventional piglet rearing feed. The Family piglet feed consisted of pellets with different diameters (4 and 12 mm) and different lengths (10–30 mm). The most important conclusions about feed were, before weaning: • T he Family feed did not impact weight loss, backfat thickness or sow feed use; • The Family feed did not influence the percentage of eaters or the piglet growth during lactation. Prior to weaning, the piglets receiving the Family feed had more skin lesions than those piglets receiving the control feed. In addition, the most important conclusions about feed after weaning were: • The Family feed did not impact growth and feed intake throughout the entire piglet rearing phase, the piglets’ final weight or feed conversion. The percentage of piglets with di- arrhoea was higher until day 12 post-weaning in comparison to control feed. • Piglets receiving Family feed showed more tail biting; on some days the percentage of piglets without ear lesions was lower for Family feed.
The research publication “Family Feeding Matters” was authored by C.M.C. van der Peet-Schwering, A.I.J. Hoofs and G.P. Binnendi- jk, Wageningen Livestock Research, the Netherlands; J.E. Bolhu- is, Wageningen University, the Netherlands; H. van Hees, Trouw Nutrition; and Q. Dees, Vereijken.
▶ PIG PROGRESS | Volume 37, No. 10, 2021 11
PHOTOS: ANITA HOOFS, WUR
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