THE IMPACT OF FEEDING DEVICES ON WATER-CONSUMPTION BY FINISHING PIGS

Ad lib water consumption obtained with three feeding systems for finishing pigs was compared. Circular wet-feeders offer ten eating places (trough + 5 nipples inside) to pigs fed sequentially (3x per 24 h) or ad libitum; wet-feeders offering one eating place (trough + nipple drinker inside) are used to feed finishing pigs ad libitum; dry-feeders offering four eating places at a trough to finishing pigs are used to feed them ad libitum (nipple drinkers are provided separately). The comparative study took place at two farms and included several replications. The results concerning water consumption were submitted to a variance analysis which led to the conclusion that wet-feeders reduce the pig slurry volume to be stored and spread with 20 - 30 % in comparison with dry-feeders. Wet-feeders can be considered as a substantial improvement in pig husbandry not at least because of the reduction in the cost price of slurry storage and handling.