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Feeders for weaners

The following is a summary of a study carried out by Niamh O'Connell, Violet Beattie and Norman Weatherup at the Agricultural Research Institute at Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. The aim of the study was to determine the optimum feeder type which is commercially available for weaned pigs. In determining the optimum feeder type the performance and behaviour of the pigs and the ease of management of the feeder were assessed.

Feeders Assessed

  • Dry multi space (Etra feeders)
    dry multi space feeder
  • Wet and dry multi space (Etra feeders)
    wet and dry multi space feeder
  • Maximat (Echberg)
    Maximat feeder
  • Lean machine (Big Dutchman)
    Lean machine feeder
  • Verba (Verbakel)
    verba feeder

Results

Mean performance from 4 to 11 weeks of age.

  Dry multi space Wet and dry multi space Maximat Lean machine Verba
Parameter          
Food intake (g/d) 897 951 863 839 824
Daily liveweight gain (g/d) 598 605 577 572 575
FCR 1.50 1.58 1.49 1.47 1.42

Daily Feed Intake

  • Daily feed intakes were significantly higher with wet and dry multi space feeders. The lowest feed intakes were observed with the Verba and Lean Machine Feeders.
  • Daily Liveweight Gain. There was no significant difference in daily liveweight gain between pigs on the different feeders. However there was a non significant trend towards improved performance with multi space feeders.
Feed Conversion Ratio
  • FCR was poorest on the multi space wet and dry feeder. The best feed conversion was shown by pigs using Verba feeders where conversion ratios throughout the period of the experiment were significantly better than with all other feeders.
In terms of choosing the optimum feeder, both the wet and dry and dry multi space feeder resulted in similar high levels of performance. However a major drawback with the wet and dry multi space feeder was the poor feed conversion which is likely to reflect greater wastage of feed.

Behaviour

Occupancy of feeder

Video observations showed that the average number of pigs occupying the feeder at any given time was significantly higher with Lean Machine, Maximat and Verba feeders. Wet and dry multi space feeders showed an intermediate number of pigs at the feeder, while the lowest average number was seen with the dry multi space feeder.
The higher percentage of pigs at Lean Machine, Maximat and Verba feeders may indicate that pigs had to compete to get access to feed.

Management of Feeders

The wet and dry multi space feeder required the most management. The feeder became blocked a number of times due to a combination of low feed intakes and high water pressure in the drinkers.
The Maximat feeder also caused a few management problems as it was difficult to adjust the flow of feed.

Summary of pig performance, behaviour and management of different feeders.

  Stage 1 Growth rate Stage 2 Growth rate Variability within group Feeding pattern FCR Management
Dry multi-space Good Good Low Normal Good Easy
Wet and dry multi-space Average Good Moderate Normal   Prone to block
Maximat Average Average Moderate Normal Good Difficult to adjust
Lean machine Average Average High Extended Good Very easy
Verba Good Average High Extended Good Easy