Development of a measurement system for suckled milk volume in piglets

摘要

We have developed a measurement system for suckled milk volume in piglets. The measuring system is composed of an angled cage, a load cell, the cage holding the piglet, and a persona computer. The measurement of suckled milk volume is obtained from the difference of body weight, before, and after suckling. The body weight can be obtained by calculating the mean value from the fluctuation of load cell, even if the piglet moves in the cage. The measuring range of this system, at values under 10kg, has an accuracy within +-1.0 g. In the measurement experiment on the suckled milk volume of piglets, the mean volume for Landrace piglets per time at 0-3 days of age, was about 15 g. At 8-14 days, the mean suckled milk volume increased to about 25g, and y=0.0051X-3-0.2185X-2+3.2907X+9.787 was obtained as an approximate curve of the mean suckled milk volume. From these results, this system proved convenient with high accuracy, obtained during a short period of time, and it was shown that this system was practical to use.